The planning of this Rotary Days of Service project, the Back-2-School Backpack Drive, started in July 2021 in anticipation of completion to coincide with the beginning of the Fall semester. These backpacks were stuffed with the essential school supplies that are necessary for educational success. Our county has several organizations who work to assist children in need in lower income situations and are supported by our Rotary clubs in Groups 4, 5, 6, and 7 in District 5240.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ventura County is one such organization that works regularly with our clubs, and they were a perfect collaborative partner for this project. Big Brothers/Big Sisters also brought in an existing relationship with the NBA and NFL, who donated the backpacks through the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Rams.
With a goal of completing each group event in time for each school district opening between mid and late August, plans were laid out for Rotarians and their clubs to sign up volunteers, locate event locations and identify organizations tied to assisting kids to form the collaboration. All projects were completed and backpacks were distributed in time for the start of the school year. In addition to the Rotarians, Interactors, Rotaractors, friends and family members who came out to participate, at least ten more organizations were involved in this massive community effort to help our children. Volunteers also included government officials, business leaders and law enforcement representatives. In all, over 1100 kids benefitted from this project!
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