October 23, 2015 Gazettes, Long Beach’s Favorite Community Website
This Saturday, more than 700 students from Jackie Robinson Academy will receive new backpacks filled with school uniforms and school supplies.
The massive effort is organized by the Rick Rackers, an auxiliary of the Assistance League of Long Beach, in coordination with chapter members.
The Rick Rackers’ signature philanthropic undertaking is Operation School Bell®, which provides new school uniforms to low-income students throughout Long Beach. This group provides two uniform sets per child to students whose parents successfully apply for them.
At Jackie Robinson Academy (2750 Pine Ave.), a high-needs school in central Long Beach, about 200 students per year received the uniforms, Principal Damita Myers-Miller said.
In addition to those two uniforms, which are provided throughout the year, the Rick Rackers chooses one school per year and offers free uniforms to each student at that school. This year, it was Jackie Robinson.
“We offer to clothe the entire school,” Rick Rackers Press Chairman Katey Conley said. The effort takes place on Make A Difference Day, a nationwide initiative started by USA Today promoting community service.
She said schools are evaluated by participation in the free school lunch program and perceived neediness based on past free uniform distribution.
Getting hundreds of school uniforms to students is a big logistical project, and the Rick Rackers depend on their corporate sponsors — include UPS, which provides delivery service on the day of the event — for support, Conley said.
The uniform packs vary slightly by age. The K-5 students will receive backpacks with two uniform sets, a sweatshirt, socks, underwear, and school supplies inside. The middle schoolers will receive two uniform sets, an extra polo, a sweatshirt and school supplies in a drawstring bag. (Jackie Robinson is a K-8 school.)
Conley estimates that each backpack costs between $50 and $70, once filled. The Assistance League manages the cost through a combination of fundraisers, grants and corporate sponsorships.
The Rick Rackers will be on campus from 8:30 to 10 am Saturday to pass out backpacks. But the day will have things for the whole family to do, Principal Myers-Miller said.
