Stanislaus State’s Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) and the University Student Center (SC) have joined forces to provide school supplies for local elementary school children during their annual Backpack and School Supply Drive.
The drive kicked off July 1 and continues through Aug. 2. ASI and SC invite fellow Warriors, faculty and staff to partner with them to donate essential items such as pencils, crayons, markers, glue sticks, backpacks and notebooks that will be given to local school-age kids in the community.
Donors can participate by purchasing items from an Amazon Wishlist or by dropping off purchased items at the SC Service Desk Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Aug. 2.
Interim SC Special Projects Manager Megan Parravano said that in 2023, the drive collected more than 60 backpacks and 2,400 individual items for students at three Turlock elementary schools: Wakefield Elementary, Cunningham Elementary and Osborn Two-Way Immersion Academy.
Parravano wants to increase the number of backpacks received this year and reminds everyone that no donation is too small.
“We hope to increase backpack donations to 180 so we can support even more young learners,” she said.
As a mother of an elementary schooler, Parravano knows first-hand how much these fundraisers impact younger learners. Her daughter received a backpack from the Modesto Police Department last year, which helped foster a positive relationship with law enforcement.
“We hope Stan State can also make a lasting impact on students and encourage them to continue their education well past elementary school and eventually into college.”
The Backpack and School Supply Drive is part of the Warriors Giving Back program, which provides opportunities for Stan State’s campus community to support and give back to surrounding communities. The program organizes two other annual fundraisers during the academic year, its Stan State Giving Tree in the fall and Blood Drive in the spring.
