Like most incoming freshmen, Mia is nervous to start high school. After the last few years of being an honors student in middle school, Mia is eager to earn good grades and maybe even go to college one day, as she would be the first in her family to do so.

Mia is often a guest at the Ventura County Rescue Mission’s outreach events. While both her parents work hard to provide for her family, medical bills and hard times have made it difficult for them to make ends meet. Since Mia was young, she has been able to depend on the Mission to help her family with things they need.

Without the advantages many other high-performing students have, Mia has worked hard in school and earned a spot on the honor roll. But unlike her peers, Mia often carries the additional worry of not being able to afford the supplies she and her siblings need for school. That’s why our annual school supply giveaway means so much to her.

On August 10th, Mia and over 400 other children like her were able to receive school supplies and backpacks at our annual School Supply Giveaway. Kids from kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade were able to receive the supplies they need to help them succeed in school. “A child’s education is critical to their lifetime success, and our giveaway is one small way we can help contribute to that success,” said John Saltee, the Mission’s director.

We are thankful for so many people in our community who see and understand the need for children in our community to start their school year off with all the supplies they need.

Thank you for your generous donations that make this giveaway possible each year.

This year, Mia and all her siblings each walked away with a brand new backpack full of supplies. Mia often tells us how grateful she is that her family never has to worry about whether or not they’ll have all the things they need to start school each year. She knows that she can count on the Mission, and that she can count on you. Thank you for helping Mia and so many others like her succeed!