Did you know that more than 39% of CCUSD students receive free or reduced price lunches at their schools every day? For many students, this vital resource includes free breakfast. In some circumstances, healthy, reliable meals on the weekends are not a guarantee.
Since 2013, the CCUSD Backpacks for Kids program has been serving students at all CCUSD school sites, serving more than 10,000 meals to students throughout the year, officials said.
The program will be collecting food at Pavilions Culver City at 11030 Jefferson Blvd. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July and Sunday, July 25-26.
The group will be collecting the following items, which can be purchased at Pavilions:
• Pudding Cups
• Chocolate and Vanilla, Shelf Stable Milk (e.g. 8 oz Horizon Milk)
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Cup Noodles
• Peanut Butter (12 or 16 oz. plastic jars)
• Granola and Cereal Bars
• Fruit Cups (in individual serving containers)
• Oatmeal (in individual serving packets)
• Canned Beef Stew, Meat Pasta (in pop-top cans)
• Wrapped Rolls of Crackers (e.g. Ritz)
• Gift Cards (Subway, Target, Pavilions, in $5 and $10 denominations)
No glass. Plastic jars and pop-top cans only, please.
The CCUSD Backpacks for Kids Program provides food to CCUSD students who may not have access to healthy food during the weekend. Parents and staff work together to identify students in need. On Thursdays, parents and student volunteers at one CCUSD location fill the backpacks. The backpacks are delivered every Friday to each school for these students to take home anonymously.
Parents, students and community volunteers run the program. CCUSD school families and community members provide pre-packaged, nonperishable foods through school food drives and other donations. Tax-deductible donations (Tax ID 23-7014093) are also being accepted to fill the gap between the need and the food donations.
To make a donation, go to ccusd.org, click on the Backpacks for kids link and make a payment via Paypal. Or make checks payable to CCCPTA, put “Backpacks” on the memo line and mail to:
Culver City Council PTA, 4034 Irving Place, Culver City, CA 90232
For more information, email CCBackpacksforKids@gmail.com or call 310-936-2831. To volunteer to help, please contact Leslie Gardner at lgardner63@gmail.comn or (310) 963-5218.