Santa Maria non-profit organization offering back-to-school essentials to low income families

For low income families in Santa Maria, even school supplies can be financially out of reach. But one non-profit organization is stepping in to make sure kids of all ages have everything they need this back to school season.

“We’re focusing on giving backpacks, school supplies, and free haircuts as well,” explained Stephanie Hernandez of One Nation 805.

The organization already has 300 backpacks and tons of school supplies for everyone -from kinder, to high school.

It’s all been a community effort.

“There’s a few companies who helped us out with monetary donations,” Hernandez said. “We also had individual people. We had members from the club that would come in and also donated, we had people from the city that donated to the drive as well.”

One Nation 805 knows the costs can quickly add up every semester. Especially when families are sending more than one kid to school.

“There’s quite a few families that have up to seven children,” she said.

“I think the important part is we need to make sure that the children are focused more on their school, their homework. And not have to worry about why I don’t have a notebook or pen to use.”

This is One Nation 805’s first backpack drive.

The event is taking place on Sunday August 12 at the Abel Maldonado Center in Santa Maria, from 1pm-4pm.