By Mike Kinney
The Kiwanis Club of San Pablo partnered with local businesses Saturday to give away backpacks filled with school supplies to students in need at the San Pablo Library.
About 1,300 backpacks were prepped to distribute to kids with the aim of preparing them for the new school year, according to San Pablo Kiwanis President Lucy Alfaro. The event also featured booths offering a wide variety of community resources supporting healthy families, and 105 free haircuts were provided to children.
Barbara Jellison, executive director of Food Services for the West Contra Costa Unified School District, also arranged to have hundreds of free meals to distribute at Saturday’s event. The WCCUSD provides meals throughout the summer for children in need at locations across the city.
“We strive to create a nurturing environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Alfaro said the event, which served children in kindergarten through 12th grade, is part of the Kwanis Club’s mission of providing educational resources, programs, mentorship and school supplies every summer before the school year starts.
“We strive to create a nurturing environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive, and every caregiver has one less thing to check off their list,” she said.
A grateful San Pablo resident Yolanda Cerritos attended the event with her two sons. She decried the rising cost of backpacks and school supplies.
“This is so kind of the organizers to help parents get their kids ready for school,” she said.
