2014 ended with an outpouring of generosity from the Culver City Community. The CCUSD Backpacks for Kids program which sends food home on the weekends for families of Culver City public school students benefitted from an incredible bounty of public and community spirit.
Food drives were held at all of the schools, at local organizations including The Culver Studios, Tower Insurance, Cub Scout Pack 461, the Culver City Police and Fire Departments, and the Senior Center.
Generous monetary donations from Euro VAT (Britta and Goran Eriksson), Marlene Winston, Marc and Martin Weiss, Jason and Lois Frand, CCEF, and School PTAs and Booster Clubs will all go to purchase food for the backpacks.
The most amazing food drive took place over the weekend of December 13-14 at the Pavilions on Jefferson. It was a smashing success. The Culver City community showed how kindhearted it is by donating $3755.00 in food and over $700 in cash and gift cards to the Backpacks for Kids program.
“These donations will go a long way to helping us fill over 85 backpacks weekly for students at all of our Culver City Schools whose families do not have access to enough food over the weekend. We did not have to explain why this program is so important for people to give generously,” said Leslie Gardner, PTA Co-Chair of the program. “Kids who are hungry struggle to learn. It is our responsibility as a school district and community to make sure that if something is getting in the way of learning, that we address it. “
"Much kudos goes to Stanley Hodge, III, assistant manager in charge of fund raising who set up the food drive, gave us valuable tips, arranged an in-store display, and helped us repeatedly all weekend," said Jamie Wallace, Backpacks Co-Chair. "Also, thanks to everyone at Pavilions, from the checkers to the store manager who made everything run smoothly.
“Thanks, too, to Culver City High School senior and Pavilions employee extraordinaire, Christian Alvarado, who helped us carry items out to the cars, boxed everything so we could carry it, and was an all-around wonderfully helpful person."
Gift cards were given to CCUSD high school Counselor Adrienne Madrid to distribute to students who might be raising themselves and their siblings, and to families which are homeless or struggling.
Since 2013, the CCUSD Backpacks for kids program has provided more than 10,000 meals. Currently, the program has enough food to fill backpacks for about two months and is still taking donations so they are able to continue to the end of the school year.
To make a tax deductable donation, go to http://www.ccusd.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=412414&id=0
Or make checks payable to CCCPTA and put “Backpacks” in the memo. Mail to 4034 Irving Place, Culver City CA 90232. Info: CCBackpacksforKids@gmail.com
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