The From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries held their annual Backpack Giveaway Saturday, August 10 at the Hamilton High School gym. Hundreds of students received loaded backpacks, new shoes, socks, clothes, haircuts, rye exams and even free vaccinations.
The traditional event to assist local students with a head start to their school year served over 390 children.
“There were 393 backpacks passed out that day and we gave about another 100 to the local schools,” said organizer Christi James. “There were 24 haircuts given, hundreds of shoes and socks given out, dozens of children’s books provided and vaccines and eye exams available for those who needed them.”
Last year’s giveaway served over 350 mountain community students.
According to James, many Hemet Unified School District students attending the Anza Hamilton schools need pens, paper, crayons and art supplies, with a backpack in which to safely keep it all.
The annual backpack giveaway is a free event for school children grades K- 12 that reside in the mountain communities of Anza, Aguanga, Mountain Center and Idyllwild. Children had to be present to receive their backpack.
Many charitable organizations, businesses and individuals contribute to the success of the yearly affair, held the week before school begins.
“From the Heart’s Backpack Giveaway is so much more than backpacks,” said James. “There were free books, vaccines, eye exams, shoes, socks, clothing, phones and haircuts provided, all the while with Erinne Roscoe and KOYT 97.1 FM playing awesome music. Thank you Friends of the Anza Community Library for providing free children’s books. We appreciate Hamilton High School for the use of the building and for all of the many volunteers.”
The From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries serves and focuses on families and children in need in the mountain communities of Anza, Aguanga, Mountain Center and Idyllwild. Fundraising events are held throughout the year to help collect money to aid this worthy cause.
Rummage sales, luncheons, raffles and the Annual From the Heart’s Holiday Dinner all help to present much-needed activities such as this. The From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries Backpack Giveaway provides much-needed school supplies and more for the students in Anza and surrounding communities, to give them the best start for the new school year.
To learn more about the From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries or donate, write to: From The Heart Christian Women’s Ministries, PO Box 391224, Anza, CA 92539, or email Anzafromtheheart@gmail.com.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia.com.
