BAKERSFIELD - School starts next week for many Bakersfield students and time is running out to send kids back with supplies they need.
When that first bell rings, kids won't just be walking back into their classrooms. They know they'll be walking into a small social arrangement and one thing will be glaringly obvious to the kids coming to school from the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
"Lots of people will be wearing new stuff," said a nine-year-old girl.
Shelter occupant Ruth Smith has seven children she needs to get ready for school. Smith wants them to focus on their education and not on what they don't have.
"We had to come here because we had nowhere else to go," said Smith. "And, I just want them to have their own things, to let them know that they are special. They are an important part of someone's life."
Backpacks can average $10 to $60 at most retailers and Smith said she appreciates the help her kids receive from the community.
"The thing about being at the homeless center is those kids are already sort of branded as being the homeless kids," said Public Affairs Director, Carolann Wooton. "So anything we can do to give them the opportunity to be just like everybody else to fit in with the crowd, that's what we want to do."
Wells Fargo recently donated 400 backpacks to the homeless center, but supplies are still needed to fill the backpacks.
"Supplies like the pens, the pencils, the notepads, rulers, all those things you would put into a backpack," said Wooton. We don't want those backpacks to be empty."
Wooton said a little bit of fashion and utility will help put the focus back on the schoolwork.
School supplies can be donated at the Bakersfield Homeless Center or at KGET at 2120 L St. The drive ends August 14th and the backpacks will be handed out August 17th.
When that first bell rings, kids won't just be walking back into their classrooms. They know they'll be walking into a small social arrangement and one thing will be glaringly obvious to the kids coming to school from the Bakersfield Homeless Center.
"Lots of people will be wearing new stuff," said a nine-year-old girl.
Shelter occupant Ruth Smith has seven children she needs to get ready for school. Smith wants them to focus on their education and not on what they don't have.
"We had to come here because we had nowhere else to go," said Smith. "And, I just want them to have their own things, to let them know that they are special. They are an important part of someone's life."
Backpacks can average $10 to $60 at most retailers and Smith said she appreciates the help her kids receive from the community.
"The thing about being at the homeless center is those kids are already sort of branded as being the homeless kids," said Public Affairs Director, Carolann Wooton. "So anything we can do to give them the opportunity to be just like everybody else to fit in with the crowd, that's what we want to do."
Wells Fargo recently donated 400 backpacks to the homeless center, but supplies are still needed to fill the backpacks.
"Supplies like the pens, the pencils, the notepads, rulers, all those things you would put into a backpack," said Wooton. We don't want those backpacks to be empty."
Wooton said a little bit of fashion and utility will help put the focus back on the schoolwork.
School supplies can be donated at the Bakersfield Homeless Center or at KGET at 2120 L St. The drive ends August 14th and the backpacks will be handed out August 17th.