To help ensure all children in Goleta Union School District’s (GUSD) nine elementary schools start the academic year with the learning tools they need, Goleta Noontime Rotarians and the Goleta Rotary Club provided new backpacks and school supplies.

Rotary Club members fill backpacks with school supplies for Goleta Unified School District students.
Rotary Club members fill backpacks with school supplies for Goleta Unified School District students. Credit: Courtesy photo

A crew of 22 volunteers from the two Rotary groups came together for the Aug. 12 backpack event in the Goleta Union School District’s Board Room.

This year, 408 children from transitional kindergarten through sixth grade received a new backpack provided by the Rotary clubs. Qualified students were served through referrals from community liaisons and site principals.

Each student chose a backpack from a variety of colors. Each backpack is filled with pencil bags, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, crayons, markers, a pair of school scissors, highlighter pens, and spiral notebooks.

The items were purchased in bulk by the Rotary Club.

Jan Phillips, Noontime Rotary of Goleta’s assistant governor, coordinated the event.