This past July, we checked off another great School Supply Drive! Our days were filled with endless counting, backpack sorting, and school supply shopping. From spontaneously dropping off at a local grape field and buying an eye-catching number of backpacks to figuring out which folder and notebook color combination work best, we accomplished our goal! And after vigorously figuring out how to fit more than 400 backpacks in a minivan, we set off to three different drop-off locations. All of this resulted in 980 backpacks being delivered to the children of farm workers. And with your support, their families are ready for the school year ahead. 

 

We learned very quickly on our drop-offs that certain things happen for a reason. When our first drop-off location didn’t go as planned, we went straight to the farm workers at the local grape fields and delivered directly to them! This sudden shift turned our School Supply Drive into one of our best. Farm workers collected all 400 backpacks for their kids, nephews, nieces, and cousins and called on friends to get some for themselves. They ensured no one was left behind. One farmworker was still in school, and after picking some backpacks for his family members, he asked if he could have one too. This is a testament to how selfless and deserving they are of this mutual-aid act. We thanked the farm workers for everything they’ve done and continue to do for us. They kept sharing how grateful they were, and we couldn’t convey how grateful we were for them. 

 

For our second drop-off location, we met up with our friends at Movimiento Cultural de la Union Indígena (MCUI), an Indigenous-led organization made up of Oaxacan migrants in California. This community-led organization centers on language justice and ensures students stay engaged and connected to their culture, customs, and traditions. We’ve worked closely with this resilient group in the past few years and were able to deliver 400 backpacks to them! 

 

And, of course, we worked with Lizabeth Valdez in the Central Valley, where we dropped off our remaining 180 backpacks. Lizabeth does incredible work to protect the rights of farm workers and is an essential part of our School Supply Drive every year! 

 

Thank you to everyone who shared our posts, donated funds, and shipped supplies directly to our office. This School Supply Drive was one for the books! Please enjoy these images from our drop-offs. Shark-themed backpacks were the most loved, with Encanto coming in a close second!