Throughout the month of July, Home Start, a local nonprofit dedicated to child abuse prevention and providing evidence-based family strengthening services is collecting donations for its Back-to-School Backpack Drive, benefiting children who use Home Start services. Home Start is collecting backpacks, pens, pencils, binders, reusable water bottles, and more to fill backpacks with must have school supplies for students, reducing the financial impact school supply shopping has on struggling families. Donations benefits K-12 students.
On April 29, Home Start celebrated its annual Blue Ribbon Gala at The US Grant Hotel raising nearly $150,000 for funding its crucial programs and assistance services. The funds goes towards the nonprofit’s services to help children, families, and individuals affected by tragedies, including homelessness, domestic violence, hunger, abuse, and neglect.
“My gratitude goes out to the many sponsors, supporters, donors, and community members who helped contribute to our Blue Ribbon Gala this year,” Home Start CEO Laura Tancredi-Baese, said in a press release. “We could not continue our mission without the amazing generosity of so many. On behalf of the many lives this funding will positively impact, I express our deep thanks.”
Donated supplies can be dropped off at Home Start’s main location on Monday through Friday 8:30am – 5pm at 5005 Texas Street, Suite 203, San Diego, CA 92108 through Friday, July 28th. The supplies will then be distributed to Home Start families throughout the first week of August.
The organization is also accepting school supply donations through its Amazon Wishlist (https://bit.ly/3NL7Rkb). Shopping through the Wishlist allows the donations to be shipped directly to Home Start.
To arrange a pickup for 10+ backpacks, please contact Kylene George at KGeorge@home-start.org. For more information about the Backpack Drive and donations, please visit https://home-start. org/2022-home-start-backpack-drive/