Back to School in Style: American Licorice Company Distributed Backpacks to East Bay Kids

For the fourth consecutive year, employees from Union City candy maker American Licorice Company distributed backpacks full of school supplies to local East Bay elementary students and teachers Aug. 26-27.

Partnering with Kids In Need Foundation, a nonprofit organization that furnishes school supplies to underserved students and teachers, American Licorice provided a grant to purchase, ship and distribute more than 1,700 backpacks to students at Tyrrell Elementary in Hayward and Guy Emanuele, Jr. Elementary in Union City.

“We are proud to be able to provide backpacks and supplies to children in the East Bay for the fourth straight year,” said Steve Walters, Markets and Economic Analyst and Charitable committee member at American Licorice. “American Licorice has focused its charitable donations on improving education around Union City where we manufacture Red Vines®. We are glad to have the opportunity to give back to the community and provide this resource for the families and children.”

American Licorice employees handed out backpacks as part of the company’s paid volunteer time off program, which allows employees up to 16 hours off each year to give back to the community.

—Information and photo submitted by American Licorice Co.

Photo: That is American Licorice safety and sustainability Joaquin Almaguer kneeling with his nephew, Carlos Yepez. Photo courtesy: American Licorice Co.