High School Inc. joins forces with local community partners to provide over 550 Student Learning Kits
School is officially back in session and with the support of local community partners, High School Inc. helped students at Valley High School start their school year feeling valued and supported, with a bunch of great new back-to-school supplies.
With 17 months of virtual learning in Orange County’s rearview mirror, more than 2200 students were looking forward to returning to their first day back in person at Valley High School in Santa Ana. However, many of these students come from low-income households, struggling to afford basic school necessities like pencils, backpacks, and even masks.
“The pandemic has taken a toll on many of the underserved students that we serve at Valley High School and help was needed to provide assistance for many families and students,” High School Inc. Academies Foundation Executive Director, Mary Tran said. “Our organization is committed to giving back to the community. We feel this year, backpacks full of school supplies will provide a foundation for our students to begin the school year with pride and self-confidence.”
Several Orange County businesses and organizations came together to help create more than 550 personalized learning kits for Valley High students. Community Partners included Goodwill of Orange County, 99 Cent Stores, California Love Drop, Johnson & Johnson, The Printer’s Circle, and Vital Link. The learning kits included essential school supplies such as calculators, staplers, three-ring binders, personal care products, and clothes.
In an effort to ease these students’ financial burdens, Goodwill of Orange County donated school supplies and thousands of PPE materials such as hand sanitizers and masks to help these students successfully start the school year with everything they need. Retail employees like Goodwill’s Garden Grove Store team were happy to help in the donation process!
Both Goodwill and HSI align in a common mission: empowering and equipping people with barriers to achieve success, independence, and purpose. By providing necessities to these hardworking, resilient students– especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic—Goodwill of Orange County is honored to continue strengthening its local community through purpose-driven partnerships like these.
The event took place at Valley High School Campus with over 550 students in need of backpacks and school supplies attended in person.
“This is the second year, our partners at High School Inc. supported our students with Back to School supplies during this pandemic,” says Valley High School Principal, Katie Berger, “The supplies are so well needed for our students, especially during this time. We are grateful for High School Inc’s partnership and the community partners that came together to support our Valley High School Students.”
