1,465 Students Receive Free Shoes and Backpacks at Back to School Resource Fairs
LAKE ELSINORE/RIVERSIDE – Fresh footwear, a new backpack stuffed with school supplies, a stylish haircut, a dental cleaning and exam, and an overall health physical for 1,465 students and a total of 2,304 community members in Riverside County, were all packed into two Back to School Resource Fairs held on July 30 with Lake Elsinore Unified School District at the Jean Hayman Training Center, and on August 3 with the Alvord Unified School District at La Sierra High School in partnership with the Riverside County Office of Education.
“The rising costs of school supplies and the student and parent expectations ahead of a new year can be stressful for families. A sense of physical and emotional wellness, and even a new pair of shoes or a backpack, can help build confidence for students and set a positive tone for the first day of the school year,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “We are grateful for our district partners who hosted these events for their communities, along with all of our partners who have generously donated time, services, and supplies.”
The free events were open to students in foster care, and families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Services were provided by practitioners from GeriSmiles, All Kids Health, and cosmetology students from Advance Beauty Techs Academy. In addition, 32 community agencies were on hand to provide information to families and students.
Event partners included:
Soles4Souls, a global non-profit dedicated to fighting the impact and perpetuation of poverty, has donated 1,750 pairs of shoes, and 4,000 pairs of socks. Soles4Souls volunteers were on-site in their pop-up "shoe store" working toward their goal of providing every child with a new pair of shoes.
Kaiser Permanente coordinated a backpack and school supplies drive across its facilities in Riverside County. Together, Kaiser Permanente staff, physicians and business partners donated 1,963 new backpacks loaded with school supplies for students in Riverside County.
In addition, donations have been received from: Bombas Socks, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, and Supply Bank.
For more information on accessing services or student/family needs for back to school, contact the McKinney Vento Homeless Youth Services at studentservices@rcoe.us or Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program (FYSCP) Unit at the Riverside County Office of Education at (951) 826-4700 or FYSCP@rcoe.us.
About the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts and 500+ schools that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts and charter schools, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant, and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support, and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators, and staff, throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County.