Nonprofit donates backpacks to Calexico students in need

A local nonprofit is helping Calexico students in need to kick off the new school year with a new backpack filled with school supplies.

The nonprofit that helps feed homeless people in Calexico, Brown Bag Coalition (BBC), donated over 30 backpacks to Calexico Unified School District’s (CUSD) Family Resource Center (FRC).

The resource center’s coordinator, Hortencia Armendariz, said the center helps about 300 families each year.

Armendariz said at least 800 students in the CUSD are considered homeless and qualify for benefits offered at FCR.

“The reason that we have such a high number, it’s not that they’re all living in a shelter or living in vans, or staying in parks,” said Armendariz.

“There’s a federal law called the Mckinney-Vento Program, that helps families that are going through economic hardship, or they’re living in substandard housing,” said Armendariz.

Armendariz said many of the families they help, can’t afford a brand-new backpack for their child, which is why she said this donation is so meaningful.

“These children will enter the school year feeling happy and confident with their new supplies,” said Armendariz.