Members of the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office recently went on a shopping spree at the Martinez Walmart. They used donations raised in an office-wide fundraising drive to purchase backpacks and other school items for local children in need.
The inter-office effort raised more than $2,300 and 1,800 school supplies to support the Contra Costa County Family Justice Alliance’s annual Backpack Drive for children affected by violence. The DA’s Office co-locates at all of the centers – in Richmond, Concord and Antioch – as part of a partnership to support victims, according to Dana Filkowski, deputy district attorney.
“We’re huge supporters of the collaborative approach to solving all forms of interpersonal violence in our community, and making sure every child kindergarten through 12th grade who needs a backpack has a backpack that they can choose…,” Filkowski said.
Helping the DA’s Office in the backpack drive was court support dog “Bear,” who is specially trained to go to court with children who have to testify about having experienced or witnessed violence.
“Super fun to have Walmart staff fill the backpacks for the children of our Family Justice Centers,” Filkowski said.
Added DA Diana Becton, “I am so excited for this partnership and I can’t wait to deliver our supplies.”
