Alameda Education Foundation Kicks Off Annual Backpack Drive

Announcement submitted by Alameda Unified School District:

Next month, many AUSD families will head out on the annual tradition of shopping for school supplies for a new school year. Whether it’s mini staplers or giant binders, No.2 pencils or scientific calculators, these supplies offer hope for an organized new year and no small amount of pride in having new belongings.

But for low-income families, that annual shopping trip can be difficult, if not impossible, because they cannot afford the school supplies that many families take for granted.

To help those families, each year the Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) organizes “Equipped 4 Success,” a collaborative effort among local organizations to get backpacks and supplies to students served by the district’s McKinney-Vento Program (for homeless families), the Alameda Point Collaborative (which serves formerly homeless families), the Alameda Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc. of the Island City, Alameda Head Start, and the Woodstock Child Development Center.

“Starting Out on the Same Foot”

“Families on average face spending close to $109 per student on basic school supplies at the retail rate,” Bill Sonneman, AEF’s board president says. “Equipped 4 Success provides support for both students in need as well as our local partner organizations that assist low-income children, parents, and families year round.”

AEF is now soliciting funds for this year’s backpacks. You can make tax-deductible donations either online or by mailing a check to AEF (please indicate E4S in the memo line) to PO Box 1363, Alameda, CA 94501.

Last year, AEF delivered more than 1000 backpacks filled with supplies to low-income children in all grades across the district. Different grade levels received different kinds of supplies, but all of the supplies were high quality. “We want these children to start the school year feeling they have the tools they need to succeed,” says Vicki Sedlack, AEF’s executive director. “Having the same supplies can help them start out on the same foot as their more affluent peers.”

Backpacks, supplies, and financial donations are provided by individual community members, as well as local businesses and associations including the Alameda Community Fund, Alameda Kiwanis, Rotary Club of Alameda, Windermere Foundation, the Family Giving Tree, the Park Street

Business Association, and several faith communities. In addition, Alameda South Shore Center is dedicating beverage and raffle sales from their Summer Beats concerts to the drive this year. (Those concerts take place July 18 and Aug. 1, 15, and 29 from 5-7 pm.)

This year, the Rotary Club of Alameda is also sponsoring a Raiders fundraiser to benefit both Equipped 4 Success and the foundation’sAdopt A Classroom program. Tickets for the December 6 game against the Kansas City Chiefs are $75 each (regularly $85) and include a tailgate party, stocking stuffers, and prime, lower-level sideline seats. Please note that the group seating for this game is only available until August 1! Tickets are available on the Rotary Club’s website.

“I am so grateful to our many community partners for helping our neediest families in this way,” says Superintendent Sean McPhetridge. “This is the kind of partnership that provides a foundation not only for our low-income students, but also for our entire community.”