With students in the Santa Clarita Valley returning to school next week, families are preparing to gather the supplies needed for a successful school year. But with rising prices for everyday goods and services, it could make it more difficult for some families in the community to afford those essentials.
To help alleviate that stress for families in need, the Crosspoint Church located on Cinema Drive in Valencia held its annual Back-to-School event on Wednesday evening where hundreds of backpacks and clothes were given away for free, while simultaneously bringing the community together to embrace one final summer celebration with games, fun, and food.
Josue Rivera, director of operations for the church, said the initiative started a few years ago, aimed to help local families with the financial stress during back-to-school season, but with more volunteers passionate about being of service, the event gradually expanded to a celebration.
About 400 backpacks were donated to give away to students in elementary school to the high school level. An assortment of clothing for people of all ages was also provided for those interested in taking home a new clothing piece or two in a thrift-like setting, free of charge.
“We want to make sure that we are able to meet both the church and the community needs,” Rivera said. “We just want to show our love for everybody. We want everybody to be seen, and we want to bring them all together and be able to meet not just the backpack need but the clothing need, and the food need.”
As more people trickled in to enjoy an evening of food, carnival games and music, 15-year-old Hector was in search of an event where he could further connect with the community. He and his mother relocated from the Antelope Valley about a month ago.
As he showed up earlier than anticipated, he became a helping hand throughout the event. “It feels right, it feels good to help out,” he said about his first time volunteering.
He was excited to begin his time at Valencia High School and embrace the school year ahead, he said, and begin his educational career strong as he hopes to one day become a lawyer or doctor.
For lead pastor Leaf Zwerling, the back-to-school event wasn’t just a place to give away gifts to the community but also a place where he hoped those present could “make connections with people they’ve never met before,” he said.
“Love is best communicated in word and deed. It doesn’t matter faith, belief, ideologies, who you voted for,” Zwerling said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
