A backpack drive was held from April 22 – 26. The drive was sponsored by ESL teacher, Lauren Mendoza. The project was inspired at the beginning of the school year when Mendoza noticed how quickly the school ran out of backpacks to give to students in need. The school’s donation closet provides students who may otherwise not have access, free access to school supplies and resources. Products such as pencils, paper, notebooks, other stationary, etc. can be donated to be used by the students. The hope with this drive was to make sure there are enough backpacks and resources for students who need them. 

“I just really enjoy helping others, I think it’s really fun,” Beasley said. “Me, personally, I like school, so I think that if [these students] had access to all these supplies, I feel like they would want to be more involved.” 

Along with providing adequate resources for students in need, with this project, Mendoza also sought to decrease the harmful stigma and increase awareness around the school’s need closet.

“She’s over the ESL department so she’s trying to find a way where new students to our school can feel more involved, “ Beasley said.

Although Mendoza established the idea, she felt that this project should be handled by student volunteers so she encouraged students to partake. 

“It’s to help provide backpacks for students in need,” Beasley said. “Maybe like foreign students who moved to our school and don’t have enough supplies to be successful in their high school journey. We are just trying to create a positive impact on education so they have the same opportunities as all of the other students.”

Mendoza knew this was a pressing issue, so if she wasn’t able to find any volunteers, she would have her ESL students participate. Beasley and Mendoza had a relationship previous to the drive though, so Mendoza decided to reach out. Along with Beasley, Mia Ahluwalia and Struthi Shivaprakash were the main organizers of this drive. They all had Mendoza as their supervisor. 

“I actively tutor ESL students after school and a lot of them are telling me they need new backpacks — new supplies — because they feel like they don’t have enough to be successful in their school journey,” Beasley said. “ A couple of my friends who have just recently moved here feel these backpacks will help them feel more involved and like they have the same opportunities as other students.”

The organizers of this drive have been working to spread the word about the project. Their backpack goal is over 100, and all of the backpacks that were collected through this drive will be given to the donation closet and utilized for students next year. 

“Our overall goal is to make sure that the backpacks are given to somebody who really needs them and to make sure everybody is able to go to school and have the supplies needed for education,” Beasley said.