View our photo gallery from our Back-to-School Backpack Pick-Up Party on August 16th! This joyful day was full of smiles and excitement as kids picked up their backpacks and enjoyed free treats, face painting, and books. A sincere thank you to Book Exchange of Marin for providing 300 FREE books, and to staff member, Jasmine, for providing beautiful kids’ face painting! Huge thank you to Life Science Cares Bay Area and BioMarin for packing and donating 180 backpacks with supplies and our program sponsors Seagate Properties, Pasha, and Marin Sanitary Services for your generosity. This is a heartwarming community event and we couldn’t do it without the support from our staff, volunteers, and generous donors.

With the Bay Area’s living expenses still sky-high, many households, especially low-income families, are feeling the pressure. Each week, they face the difficult decision of paying rent or buying food. Ritter Center steps in to help families stay housed and nourished through rental assistance and nutritious food services. However, school supplies often remain a luxury these families cannot afford.

Education is one way to break the cycle of multi-generational poverty. However, many low-income families simply do not have the means to purchase backpacks and school supplies for their children. Inadequate supplies or clothing can set children up for failure in school, causing anxiety, damaging their self-confidence among peers, and stifling their enthusiasm for education.

Let’s rally to support our local families in need by providing all essential school supplies—from pens and paper to water bottles and lunch boxes—to help kids start the new school year strong!

Our corporate partner, Life Science Cares Bay Area, is generously donating backpacks and supplies for older students, helping to offset some of our costs. This year, just like last year, we can give each child a $100 Target gift card for new school clothes and shoes!

The cost of providing a fully-stocked backpack with supplies and a $100 gift card is $150 per child.

Together, we can make a significant impact on their educational journey by helping to kick-start their school year!