9th Annual Back to School Resource Fair

9th Annual Back to School Resource Fair

Children attending Mountain View and El Monte City School District schools are starting a new school year from home next week and will have a brighter beginning thanks to the Back-to-School Resource Fair in El Monte. Two thousand “Back to School” bags were distributed at six school locations throughout both school districts.

This year’s Annual Back-to-School Resource Fair may have looked a little different due to the pandemic, but still provided essential Distance Learning supplies to help students gear up for the 2020-2021 school year.

Parents, in line for resources at their local schools, were surprised to receive a bright green drawstring bag filled with school supplies for each child in their household. Children, sitting in back seats, provided smiles and excitement as they received their special gifts.

Families patiently waited to enter the distribution line that, for many sites, was wrapped around the block. Liliana Grimaldo, a mother of three, was happy the back to school fair was happening. “I go to your back to school event every year and it’s a great help to me,” said Grimaldo. “My children loved their school supplies.”  She included a picture of her son wearing the sunglasses provided by Cricket Wireless to the Back to School Resource Fair Committee.

Students kindergarten through eighth grade received their bright green bag filled with items specifically chosen to support distance learning and the home learning environment.  Earbuds, whiteboards with a marker, and plastic pencil sharpeners were among the items donated. Socks, hand sanitizer, sunscreen and other helpful items were added to the bags.

Families also received a voucher for a free haircut for each child, compliments of the Professional Institute of Beauty in El Monte, valid for up to 6 months- allowing time due to the pandemic.

“This is for our families. There is hope. We’ve got your back,’ said El Monte Councilmember Victoria Martinez Muela, the event’s chairperson and founder. “In giving out two thousand bags, this year’s event is the largest giveaway we have ever done. The Back to School Resource Fair committee and the coalition of community organizations rallied to collect the necessary educational items needed for this very special school year. We are grateful for the generosity of our business community, especially during this pandemic. Charitable giving when families need it the most,” said Martinez Muela.                                                             

The Back to School Resource Fair major sponsor was Cricket Wireless. Along with the drawstring bags, usually a back to school resource fair’s greatest expense, Cricket Wireless also donated pencil pouches, sunglasses and a pair of ear buds, critical to the online learning environment. Thanks to their two locations on Main Street in El Monte and in South El Monte, ten lucky families won pre-paid cell phones which included activation and one month free service. 

The Back-to-School Resource Fair also reserved supplies for children in the foster care system and children in domestic violence shelters. 

This was the 9th Annual Back-to-School Resource Fair organized by the Back to School Resource Fair committee which includes major support from the El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commerce, the Professional Institute of Beauty, El Monte Councilwoman Victoria Martinez Muela, and Cricket Wireless, in partnership with the Mountain View School District and El Monte City School Districts.

  • Mountain View Preschool Programs
  • Magnolia Learning Center