There is something symbolic about opening up a fresh box of crayons. Perfectly placed row by row, the crayons remind us of the bright possibilities of a new school year. Unfortunately, not every child has the opportunity to unzip a backpack and find freshly stocked supplies for their first day of school. For children and families in crisis who come to Foothill Family for treatment and healing, going back to school in the fall can be difficult emotionally and also financially.

Without help, many of our client families would not be able to prepare their children for the school year ahead and many of our young clients would return to school this Fall without the tools they need to succeed.

Started in 2001 by the Friends of Foothill Family, the Back-to-School Backpack Program provides backpacks  filled with books, crayons, pencils, markers, paper and other supplies to over 1,000 young low-income Foothill Family Service clients each year. Thanks to the generosity of local volunteers and donors, the Back-to-School Backpack Program has grown from serving only children from the Pasadena Unified School District to a comprehensive effort reaching students from elementary, middle and high schools in Pasadena, Duarte, El Monte, West Covina and surrounding areas. Making a difference for families in need, the Back-to-School Backpack Program brings together the generosity of local individuals and corporations willing to bridge the gap for local children.

As Foothill Family Service Board Member Rob Valencia notes, "Many of our clients are young children receiving help from Foothill Family Service because their families are facing a crisis such as illness, job loss, divorce or some other traumatic event. The Back-to-School Backpack event provides these children with the basic school supplies they need to learn and fit in with their classmates. This relatively simple thing improves the child's ability to learn and self esteem, both of which are essential to building a brighter future for the child and the family."

This year, we need YOUR help! We will be stuffing and distributing over 1,000 backpacks for young students whose families are experiencing severe economic hardship and we would appreciate your support!

Please consider becoming a backpack sponsor. Every $25-$35 donated to the Program provides one child with a backpack filled with essentials such as paper, pencils, erasers, crayons, glue sticks and rulers.

If you would like to become a backpack sponsor or volunteer to stuff or distribute backpacks, please contact Susan Zeren Dutra, Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator at sdutra@foothillfamily.org or (626)564-1613 ext. 135. Thank you!

To view pictures from the 2011 Backpack Stuffing Event, click here to visit our Facebook.