Community Action Partnership of Orange County

Back-to-School Supply Drive
2008 to 2009
Proceeds to benefit school children ( Grades K-8 ) in Orange County.

It is estimated that up to 78% of our students start the school year with no or inadequate school supplies, putting the student and the teacher at a disadvantage from the very first day of school.
As children prepare to return to school, the need for proper school supplies becomes a critical issue in many families already struggling to meet basic needs. For thousands of children in Orange County, the first day of school will be long on excitement but short on supplies. Many of our children start school without the basic tools (pencils, erasers, paper, etc.) essential to their academic success.
Many families cannot afford these items, which in turn creates an unnecessary handicap for their children and causes stress at home and in the classrooms.

“A lot of the parents couldn’t afford to pay for everything that are in the backpacks,” said Jenilee Arnaldo, Volunteer Coordinator for CAPOC’s Backs for Success! “It’s a financial relief for the parents who sometimes have as many as five children. And the kids really look forward to getting them to start a new school year. It means a lot to these kids that they can start school with a new backpack. The backpacks are so appreciated – they’re a big blessing.”

Thanks to the financial and sponsorship support of local businesses, community leaders, and donors, we are able to support the community’s effort in supplying homeless and disadvantaged children with well-stocked backpacks.

These included our Orange County Food Bank. "We’re very appreciative," said Mark Lowry, director of the Orange County Food Bank. "This is a good example of how nonprofits can work together with the community and make a difference in youth’s lives. We look forward to continuing it."

Our goal for 2008 is to fill 1,000 backpacks with school supplies and nutritious food.

You can also make a tax-deductible financial donation or become a sponsor and we will purchase the school supplies for you. Please make checks payable to "CAPOC - Backpacks for Success" and mail to:

CAPOC - Backpacks for Success
12640 Knott street
Garden Grove, Ca. 92841

To join or donate to "Backpacks for Success" call:
Alexandra Tran
714-897-6670 ext. 3405

There are children in America that rely on resources such as free or reduced-priced school lunch, during the school year.
Backpacks for Success! Food Drive is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations.

Backpacks filled with food that children take home on weekends
Food is child-friendly, nonperishable, easily consumed and vitamin fortified
Backpacks are discreetly distributed to children on the last day before the weekend or holiday vacation

The Concept
The concept was developed when we noted that school nurses asked for help because hungry students were coming to her with stomach aches and dizziness. Working with our Orange County Food Bank we will provide the school children with groceries in non-descript backpacks to carry home. In addition to providing nutritious food to school children in need, if we will provide extra food for younger siblings at home and others operate during the summer months when children are out of school and have limited access to free or reduced-priced meals.

Our goal for 2008 is to collect 10,000 pounds of nutritious non-perishable food for the backpack kids.

Food supplies donated by the public can be dropped off at the following location:

You can also make a tax-deductible financial donation or become a sponsor and we will purchase the school supplies for you. Please make checks payable to "OCFB - Backpacks for Success" and mail to:

OCFB - Backpacks for Success
12640 Knott street
Garden Grove, Ca. 92841

To join or donate to "Backpacks for Success" call:
Alexandra Tran
714-897-6670 ext. 3405