Back-To-School Drive Helps Families in East Austin, Texas
On Sunday, two generous nonprofit organizations gave families of East Austin an extra reason to look forward to the new school term by offering free school supplies and clothing. A seemingly endless line of parents and children waited for hours under a pavilion in anticipation of the annual back-to-school drive orchestrated by Impactful Inspirations Inc. and Little Treasures.
A Much-Needed Helping Hand
“It is a bigger need of help than I thought,” admitted parent Regina Parker. As a single mother of three, the assistance from such community initiatives is significant for Parker and many others like her.
Distribution of School Necessities
Stephanie Walker, the event organizer and director of Impactful Inspirations elucidated their objective, “We just want as many kids to get as many backpacks as they can. All the backpacks are already filled with school supplies.” Walker also highlighted the availability of free undergarments for those in need.
Families Grateful for the Assistance
Regina Parker was one of the many parents who showed up early in the day, fully aware that the assistance offered was based on a ‘first-come-first-serve’ policy. Stephanie Walker explained that to keep things fair, they issued tickets to families who were there since the early afternoon.
The nonprofits made these educational aids possible by utilizing funds donated by community members. In addition to school supplies, Walker mentioned the offering of “barbers and vouchers for free haircuts and free braids.”
Additional Financial Aid
Apart from providing school essentials, the charities also provided financial help to the families. Walker expressed her fulfillment in being part of such an effort. She said, “It actually feels really good because growing up, I am from Austin, we didn’t have this. We did not have this in our community for our parents to come and get the free school supplies and utilities and things that we needed.”
Despite their best efforts, the nonprofit organizations ran out of supplies due to the overwhelming response. However, determined to continue their mission, they plan to host another back-to-school drive next year.
In Summary
Many East Austin families started their school year with lighter financial burdens, thanks to the joint efforts of Impactful Inspirations Inc. and Little Treasures. The annual back-to-school drive, aimed at providing free school supplies, clothing, and additional financial support, was deemed a successful endeavor, eliciting the appreciation of beneficiaries and promises of continuity for future years.