Thanks to the generosity of community leaders like Elaine Herzig, the Campbell Rotary Club, the Almaden Super Lions and Family Giving Tree, more than 750 underserved children across Santa Clara County will receive backpacks filled with school supplies to ensure they start the year on the right foot.
This is the tenth year that the Rotary Club of Campbell has assisted Uplift family Services (formerly EMQ FamiliesFirst) with stuffing backpacks for elementary, middle and high school students. Stella Ralph, Campbell Rotary Club’s coordinator for this year’s backpack event, said the club coordinates with Uplift Family Services to supply the manpower. “It’s a great way to give back to the community and to the organization,” Ralph said, noting that Rotary meetings are held at Uplift Family Services in Campbell every Tuesday.
Elaine Herzig, who founded Carolyn’s Kids, a nonprofit focused on helping support foster kids and families, has also donated 200 backpacks each of the last two years. In order to raise funds to buy the backpacks and supplies, Elaine and her husband Robert hosted a Kentucky Derby party in May. Friends and family then bought and stuffed the backpacks in July.
Uplift Family Services will also receive backpack donations from the Almaden Super Lions, and Family Giving Tree.
Uplift Family Services, a Campbell-based nonprofit with multiple state locations, works to help the county’s families and children while providing mental health treatment. The organization helps to identify low-income families needing assistance, according to Darren DeMonsi, associate director of development. The backpacks will go to children identified by the organization’s clinicians.
Last year more than 700 backpacks were filled with supplies for all grade levels. This year’s packs include construction paper, notebooks and crayons for elementary students. For middle and high school students packs will contain binders, college-ruled spiral notebooks and math kits.
Uplift Family Services accepts donations of school supplies year-round.
