In less than an hour, more than 50 volunteers filled 250 colorful backpacks with notebooks, pencils and more on Monday, May 18 at the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office’s Re-Entry Resource Center in Salinas.
“We love doing this,” says Kiran Kamath, who has volunteered with Stuff the Bus for years with her husband Shyam Kamath, who is a board member for United Way Monterey County. “Looking at the kids' faces when they get the backpacks, because very often we're in line with the kids, and we help them fill the bags, and looking at their smiles is just amazing.”
This was the first Stuff the Bus event United Way Monterey County and Monterey County Office of Education hosted this year.
The Sheriff’s Office purchased the first batch of backpacks, which will go to students at Salinas City Elementary School District.
Sheriff Tina Nieto says the event is an opportunity to help children and empower future leaders.
“We were that child 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 years ago, and because somebody cared, we’re where we are today,” Nieto adds.
The goal is to have 6,700 backpacks ready to distribute among students who are experiencing housing instability so they are prepared with the supplies they need in the upcoming school year. That goal is 200 more than the previous year.
Many families struggle to make ends meet while juggling inflation, higher food prices and gas. According to MCOE, more than 13,000 students were identified as homeless in 2024.
“Having these backpacks really allows these kids to go to school ready to learn, confident, not feeling different from any other student. It just sets them up for success,” says Deneen Guss, MCOE’s superintendent.
More than 15 organizations are participating in this campaign, including UWMC, MCOE, Sheriff’s Office and Montage Health.
There will be more events throughout the summer. People can sign up to volunteer or donate.
The backpacks will be ready by the end of July and be distributed in August to homeless liaisons at schools across the county.