Hollister resident Jacob Oates is reviving his effort from seven years ago to give away backpacks through his organization, FEED the FLAME – which stands for “Fueling Every Educational Dream” and “Future Leaders Are Made Early.”
Oates, now a substitute teacher for the Hollister School District, did the giveaway program in 2006 and 2007 when he was in high school. The first year he gave away 55 backpacks filled with supplies. The next year it was 110 of them, he said. The backpacks have gone to low-income students in the Hollister School District.
He said he thought it would be a good idea to re-launch the program this summer. He will be out in front of Kmart from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through the summer asking for donations. FEED the FLAME is not a registered nonprofit, while Oates referred to it as a grassroots effort.
“I noticed there’s a need,” Oates said. “They clearly do need supplies.”
People can donate the supplies to him, and he will have it delivered directly to the schools, he said.
“We’re pushing for a district sweep this summer,” he said.
For more, go to: facebook.com/pages/Feed-the-FLAME-Fund/1462770517288416
