RCOE Launches Season of Giving to Support Students and Families

More than 10,000 food staple kits and gift donations are among the resources assembled and distributed by RCOE educators to support students and families beyond the classroom this holiday season

RIVERSIDE – Service to students and families throughout the region is at the core of the Riverside County Office of Education’s mission, and this holiday season, the organization has identified new and creative ways to elevate that commitment through the Season of Giving Campaign taking place in November and December.

To serve their community, employees traded in their ties and high heels for running shoes and work gloves as they volunteered to pack 2,000 bags of food staples the week leading up to Thanksgiving. Others swapped printer paper for wrapping paper to gift wrap more than 5,000 presents for children in Riverside County’s public schools. In addition, the organization has donated to multiple food banks and is partnering with local agencies and districts to make this season brighter for the community.

“Since 1893, RCOE has established itself as a service organization focused on the students and families of Riverside County,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Although schools may be closed for holiday breaks, we want to ensure that no student goes hungry. Thanks to generous employees and partners, we are embracing that service mentality to provide additional food and resources to help students and families served by our programs.”

The collaborative effort to extend nutritional support and additional resources to students, families, and school employees has led to:

• 5,400 – Gifts wrapped and/or distributed by RCOE volunteers to foster youth and students experiencing homelessness in 10 local school districts and 7 Head Start locations.
• 2,000 – Food staple bags assembled by RCOE volunteers and distributed to students in November at alternative education, preschool, Head Start, and Migrant Head Start Program sites in Riverside and Imperial Counties.
• 4,000 – Additional food staple bags to be assembled by employees and distributed to students and families throughout the region in December.
• $15,000 – Donations by RCOE to food banks serving the Coachella Valley, Blythe, Lake Elsinore, Beaumont/Banning, San Jacinto/Hemet, and Riverside.
• 500 – Turkeys donated by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and distributed to students served by migrant education programs in the Coachella Valley, Blythe, and Imperial County. 
• 15+ – Number of RCOE sites collecting donations of non-perishable items for distribution to families served by RCOE programs.

The response from families and RCOE employees alike has been powerful, with recipients sharing the impact these resources have on their families during the holiday season. RCOE employees note that their connection to those they serve is even greater thanks to these opportunities to support families and students, particularly during the holiday season.

Partnerships with First 5 Riverside County’s Family Resource Centers and Find Help are providing students and families with additional items—from formula and diapers to personal hygiene items and utility assistance.

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. Learn more about the programs and services of RCOE at www.rcoe.us.