Foothill Unity Center annual giveaway helps 1000 kids get a head start on the school year

Excited children enjoy Foothill Unity Center’s annual Back to School giveaway, helping them get a better start for the new school year – Photos by Terry Miller

Approximately 1,000 pre-registered K-12 children of low-income and homeless families who have been qualified to receive food and other services from Foothill Unity Center. Parents brought their children to Santa Anita Park Tuesday for the supplies, clothing, and haircuts they need to start the school year on a positive, confident note. Each child received: Complete new uniform (2 tops/1 bottom)
High school students: new outfit (1 top/1 bottom or a dress)
New backpack of child’s choice
School supplies packaged for each child’s grade
$14 shoe gift card
Three pairs of socks and underwear
Haircut and manicure, if desired
Age-appropriate book of child’s choice from Monrovia Reads
There were free dental screenings
Community resource fair including:
CHAPCare * Childrens Hospital LA * Department of Public Social Service
HEAR Center * Methodist Hospital * Monrovia Health Center * Options Child Care
Pacific Clinics * Pasadena Public Health Department
Snacks by Panda Restaurants * JPL Mars rover demonstration * ITT Excelis
Safety Belt Safe USA * LA PartyWorks * Southern California Edison * Paint n Play
Monrovia and Arcadia Fire Departments
Founded in 1980, Foothill Unity Center is the primary provider of food, case management/crisis help, and access to health care resources across eleven San Gabriel Valley cities: Pasadena,Altadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia, Bradbury, Duarte, Azusa, Baldwin Park and Irwindale. 79% of clients are at or below the National Poverty Level. The federally designated California Action Agency for the Foothill Area operates locations in Monrovia and Pasadena. In 2013, the Center served 10,472 people at no cost to them. Last year, volunteers contributed a total of 45,407 hours to the Center.

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