Double the Backpacks, Double the Impact

Hello Subaru of Valencia hosted their second annual backpack drive this July, just in time before school starts. The year prior, they donated over 300 backpacks to the local school district of Sulpher Springs. This year, they hoped to almost double their impact and donate 500 backpacks. They also hoped to expand their reach and help not just one, but three local school districts. The local districts of Castaic, Sulpher Springs, and Newhall have a student population of over 12,000 students, and 40% of them are economically disadvantaged. 6% of those students are also below the poverty line. With a new school year, children should not have to go to school feeling unprepared or afraid that they might be judged for not having new or the right supplies. Hello Subaru asked each of the school districts for a detailed list of supplies they needed for their students. After a month-long drive, with the help of the staff, customers and vendors, the Subaru Valencia team was able to raise over 581 backpacks. The team then came together to stuff the backpacks full of school supplies that were on the list from individual school districts. This included water bottles, notebooks, pencils, markers, crayons, colored pencils, pencil boxes, glue sticks, and so much more. Each backpack also carried a card of support and inspiration for every future leader, reminding them that they can do anything they set their mind to. The team was able to deliver all the backpacks to the offices of the school districts so that they could help young minds across the Santa Clarita Valley. But the support didn’t stop there. The remaining backpacks found a new purpose with the Santa Clarita Veterans Services Collaborative, a heartwarming gesture that extended the drive’s impact beyond the classroom. Homeless veterans’ children would receive the support they desperately needed. Hello Subaru’s dedication had paid off – they had surpassed their goal of over 500 backpacks. The feeling of unity and community was overwhelming, a reminder that the impact can be immeasurable when people come together for a beautiful cause. The second annual backpack drive was such a success that over 900 backpacks have been donated these past two years. Leaving behind a trail of gratitude, hope, and the promise of a brighter future for all those who this generosity had involved.