The Women’s Club of Hollister collected enough donations and supplies to put together nearly 100 back pack kits for four local agencies. The back packs include school supplies such as notebooks and pens, toothbrushes and comfort items such as a plush toy.
Look back later this week for a video from the back pack hand off.
This year’s recipients included the county’s Child Protective Services, Emmaus House, Chamberlain’s Children Center and Kinship Center. Volunteers with the Women’s Club talked with representatives from each agency to see what age groups they needed and what items the kids need most. This year, the backpacks for teens included a flash drive.
On July 12, about a dozen members gathered to finish up the back packs and give them to representatives from each agency.
“It seemed like it took all day in years past, but this year it only took a few hours,” said Cindy Biesemeyer, a member of the club.
Irma Torres, a CPS employee, said the agency gives the backpacks out for a child’s birthday or if they come into foster care without anything.
“If a kid is picked up, it’s usually at the last minute or in the afternoon,” Torres said. “They are not going to think about packing anything.”
She said most kids don’t have toiletries such as shampoo, toothbrushes or hair ties.
Karey Grimsley, a board member with Emmaus House, echoed the comment.
“Most come in with nothing because they leave in an emergency,” Grimsley said, of the children who come in with their mothers to the domestic violence shelter. “Those back packs are absolutely necessary. It’s like a security blanket.”
She said the advocates and volunteers keep tabs on what the kids need because they have different children of different ages coming in to the shelter.
“We are just extremely thankful,” Grimsley said. “I can’t express how wonderful this is. Without the support of the community it would be really difficult to provide this on our own.”
At the hand off of back packs, Jeanne Liem, the president of the Women’s Club asked each representative to keep track of what the kids liked most and what their needs are for next year’s drive.
The Women’s Club took over the Comfort & Care Backpack Project in 2011, after it was started by as a Leadership San Benito project. The nonprofit was founded in 1913 and is involved in a variety of community projects each year.
Donors:
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Almerico
California Mutual Ins. Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Armbruster
Mr. and Mrs. Vallejo
Mrs. Helen Casillas
Mrs. Phyllis Lanini
Ms. Joan Moore
Ms. Julie Vierra
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Robustelli
Circle S Vineyard, Inc
Ms. Felicia Silcox
Ms. Terry Giannetto
G & J Orchards
Rochelle Fischer
Armeda Dooling
Presbyterian Mariners
Nancy Stafford
Hollister Exchange Club
SBC Medical Society c/o Ralph Armstrong D.O.
Leona Valdez
Shirley Wolfe
Beryl Drinkwater
