Sacramento Businesses & Non-Profits Come Together to Serve Students of the Robla School District.
The Optimist Club approached the Morton Golf Foundation with a request to assist the families of Robla School District in their Back to School Giveaway, and we were happy to say yes. This is the second year that Morton Golf Foundation has been involved in helping these families prepare for the upcoming school year.
The Robla School District consists of six schools, and on August 5th, 2023, the six schools and volunteers gathered at Robla Main Avenue Elementary School to make a positive impact. Approximately 40% of the students in this district are either unhoused or in foster care, making the Back to School giveaway an essential event in this community.
As the families entered the multi-purpose room at Robla Main Avenue Elementary School, they received a Passport, which served as their Student ID for the day, allowing them to visit various stations set up for them. These stations covered topics such as healthcare, library resources, oral care, and backpacks, among others.
Morton Golf Foundation had numerous dedicated volunteers, and they were honored to participate in this initiative. One touching moment during the event was when a young boy around 10 years old arrived with shoes several sizes too big, and they were also mismatched. At the Back to School Giveaway, he received his first new pair of shoes, bringing him immense joy, which he shared with his mother. After getting their new PUMA shoes, the families proceeded to receive underwear and socks, completing the necessary items for their first-day school outfit.
Language barriers were handled adeptly by creative volunteers who found ways to communicate with families who did not speak English. Carson & Heather Morton from the Morton Golf Foundation used Google Translate to efficiently address the needs of these families.
The Mixed Institute of Cosmetology and Barber set up a station at the Back to School Giveaway, providing 12 stylists to help students with their hair and grooming needs, all at no cost to the students. This was aimed at giving them a positive and memorable experience as they prepared for their first day of school.
To encourage students to explore all the stations, they were entered into a raffle if they got their Passport stamped at each location. The Sacramento Police Department generously donated a FREE bicycle as a raffle prize.
Students were also educated on physical activities and fun ways to stay active throughout the year by Coach Roz from Playmakers and Coach Asley Noda from First Tee – Greater Sacramento.
The overall goal of the event was to better educate students about healthcare and prepare them adequately for the school year. The community’s compassionate leaders played a significant role in helping these families, and as students left, they were provided with a “to go” non-perishable box of food for future meals, courtesy of Food for Families.
This event showcased a remarkable collaboration among community leaders, all coming together to make a difference in the lives of these students. The support thorugh this event will continue to create an even better future for them.
