PSCDC Helps Students Across California Start the New School Year Strong with Back-to-School Events and Summer Programs

NAPA COVE, NAPA COUNTY – In August, Napa Cove hosted its first Back-to-School Supply Drive. The event was made possible thanks to the generosity of local partner Xfinity and their Community Account Executive, Joshua Keen, who helped make sure the community's young residents started their school year prepared.

Young residents even assisted in the event by packaging up the supplies and distributing them to residents. Each child received a supply package which included a folder pocket, two pencils, pens, a ruler, glue, and an eraser to go along with a notebook, a composition book, and a folder.

A total of 14 residents picked up school materials, and families were truly gracious for the support.

"The smiles on the children's faces and the appreciation from parents made the effort even more rewarding," said Napa Cove's PSCDC Resident Services Coordinator, Haydee Pelayo Nuño. "This drive was a wonderful example of how partnerships and community teamwork can make a positive difference in the lives of our residents."

PSCDC and Haydee Pelayo Nuño are incredibly thankful for the support from Xfinity and local volunteers that made this event possible and are looking forward to continuing to grow and strengthen our Napa Cove community.

VISTA DEL ROBLES, YOLO COUNTY – On August 11, Vista Del Robles held a Back-to-School Supply Giveaway in their community room from 2:00-4:30 p.m. The giveaway provided school-aged residents the necessary materials to begin the school year prepared and supported.

About 35 children received school supplies, each receiving a pre-packaged bag containing two folders, two notebooks, pencils and pens, a highlighter, a pack of paper, colored pencils or crayons, and a glue stick.

"It was truly rewarding to see the children leave with smiles on their faces," remarked Genesis Barreno, Vista Del Robles' PSCDC Resident Services Coordinator. "Several parents expressed their gratitude for the free supplies, noting that the assistance was a significant help as they prepared their children for the new school year."

In addition to meeting immediate needs, this event also served as an opportunity to remind residents of other resident services offered at Vista Del Robles such as its after-school program.

Ultimately, the event successfully supported families by alleviating back-to-school expenses and further built community spirit and engagement.

CIELO GRANDE & LAS PRADERAS, IMPERIAL COUNTY – Residents in our Imperial region communities have stayed actively learning throughout the summer by attending the summer program organized by our PSCDC Resident Services Coordinators that mixes recreation with educational material. Each year residents from several of our Imperial communities eagerly look forward to summer, among them are Cielo Grande, Las Praderas, and Villa del Sol in Calexico.

"Our goal is to create activities that are fun while offering meaningful learning experiences," stated Luz Vallejo, PSCDC's Director of Services for Imperial Valley. "We also recognize the importance of socialization and community belonging, which we encourage through our programs."

The main appeal for the summer program has been its effectiveness in making education fun and exciting for residents. For many families, the program solves the difficulty of keeping children engaged at home throughout the summer. it also offers a seamless transition from the summer to the traditional classroom and invigorates students come the start of the school year.

"At the end of the summer, we celebrate with a special day where children, volunteers, and coordinators come together," adds Luz. "It is also a time to remind our residents that PSCDC will continue to assist during the academic year with homework help, tutoring, and additional educational support services."

As the new school year starts, PSCDC is now providing after-school programs in all our family properties as a means to continue supporting school-aged residents and their families. Our Resident Services Coordinators will continue to support our residents and help them perform at their best throughout this school year.