Burton presents grandparents backpack giveaway

The Burton School District will be hosting its second annual backpack giveaway from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, July 21, at the Jim Maples Academy.

After realizing that many children are living in homes where a grandparent is the householder and often times the care giver, Burton decided to start a Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group.

Known as “grandfamilies,” many times these grandparents are at retirement age, and a have a harder time providing for their family. Approximately 20 percent of grandparents do not qualify for assistance to help take on the responsibility of their grandchildren’s basic needs.

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group’s motto is, “As grandparents we are the root of our family tree supporting all the branches and leaves.”

“At Burton we want to be acknowledged as a lighthouse school district in our commitment to educate the entire child,” said Superintendent Sharon Kamberg. “We will foster leadership among our students, parents, staff and community as we prepare each student to succeed.”

In support of those “grandfamilies” they will be holding a backpack giveaway with school supplies for the new school year from grades K-12. Each family will need to register their student who needs a school backpack.

The district’s goal is to get 150 backpacks sponsored. The event will take place at Jim Maples Academy on 252 N. Westwood St., Porterville.

If anybody would like to sponsor a backpack to help grandfamilies, or would like additional information, contact Irene Ortega at 781-8032 or email Irene.ortega@burtonschools.org.