Students to receive all the supplies they need to head back to school.

Richmond (August 11, 2022) – With school just around the corner, the Bay Area Rescue Mission will host its 25th annual backpack give away on August 11 to ease the financial burden for families who cannot afford to purchase the necessary school supplies for their children in grades pre-K through 12.“With COVID and skyrocketing prices at the pump and the grocery store, we know that hundreds of local families are struggling just to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. Buying school supplies is way out of their reach so we want to make sure their children have the tools they need to succeed in class,” said Bram Begonia, President and CEO of the Bay Area Rescue Mission. He continued, “75% of the population in our community lives below the poverty level and the recent vandalism of two elementary schools in the Iron Triangle only made matters worse for educators, who often try to subsidize supplies for low income students out of their own pockets.”

Each backpack will be filled with pens, pencils, markers, notebooks, binders, paper, composition tablets, a ruler and geometry set valued at up to $75 each. BARM purchases the backpacks and its contents at wholesale in order to maximize the value. Chevron is a long time financial partner in providing the school supplies.

Struggling families from as far away as Castro Valley, Modesto, and San Jose have already pre-registered for backpacks. Online registration continues through noon on August 10. Families can register for a scheduled pick up time on August 11 on the Mission’s website: bayarearescue.org under the ‘Upcoming Events’ tab.

The media is welcome to attend:

• August 11, 2022
• 9:00 – 11:00am
• 123 Macdonald Avenue, Richmond, CA

 

Contact Info: Please direct questions to …
Steve Lee, Digital Service Manager Office/Cell (510) 215-4798 email: stevel@bayarearescue.org
Stephanie Sewell, Vice-President of Development (510) 215-4889 email: StephanieS@BayAreaRescue.org

About the Bay Area Rescue Mission:
The Bay Area Rescue Mission is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization intentionally located in the heart of Richmond, California. It serves impoverished men, women and children 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. As a privately funded organization, it depends on the generosity and support of donors to provide integrated services to people in need, both the homeless and those struggling to make ends meet and serves as a valuable resource to the city and county. It is unrelenting in its commitment and dedication to those who are hurting in our community.