On a warm Monday morning, a Feed the Children truck rolled into the Orange County Department of Education’s main campus and workers began unloading 22 pallets with boxes full of donated supplies for students experiencing homelessness.
In total, over 1,900 items were dropped off, including backpacks filled with school supplies, non-perishable food, hygiene essentials and children’s books.
By lunchtime, trucks, vans, SUVs and cars began arriving from the 13 Orange County school districts chosen to receive the goods. Districts were selected based on the percentage of students identified as homeless.
Jeanne Awrey, project manager for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, was on hand coordinating the distribution. She stated that while each school district might have different needs, one thing they all have in common is the need for basic school supplies for their students.