More than 400 students at Campestre Elementary School received brand new backpacks and essential school supplies from GECU, just in time for the first day of school.
Campestre was one of 13 schools in El Paso and two in New Mexico that benefited from GECU's commitment to providing students with the items they need for a successful school year.
“We know that it benefits the students when they start the year right with all the tools and resources that they need, and we see the benefit that it brings to the kids and it brings relief to the parents,” said Linda Nuñez, director of GECU’s Youth Community Programs.
Each of the 480 students enrolled at Campestre received a high-quality backpack that was durable, comfortable and tailored to meet the needs of various age groups during the school’s open house on Aug. 1.
Emmarose Guzman, a third grader, chose a cheetah print backpack from a wide selection of various designs and colors.
“For the people that can't afford it, this is really helpful,” Guzman said.
Other donated items included pencils, markers, crayons, composition books and notebooks.
Guzman’s mom, Alexis Alonzo, said the supplies her daughter received will be useful throughout the school year as her children, who also include a sixth, seventh and 10th grader, begin to run low on supplies.
“I thought it was really great that they're giving back to the community, and that they're impacting our kids this way,” Alonzo said.
Campestre Elementary School Principal Randy Shreve said that her students would be ready to “rock and roll” on the first day of school with new backpacks, pencils and notebooks, thanks to GECU.
“It's so important to have this collaboration because they're providing these resources that my students may not be able to get and have on the first day of school,” Shreve said. “So, on the first day of school, my students are going to have that opportunity to participate in instruction activities with no gap in instruction or any stop. They're going to be able to just come in and start learning.”
Rachel Ojuroye and her family recently moved into the community. She was excited for her children – a first grader and a fifth grader – to start school at Campestre.
Although she had already purchased backpacks for her children, she thought it was great that free supplies were available for families. She estimated that she spent around $250 on school supplies this year.
“It’s a huge plus, and it's an amazing thing in the community,” Ojuroye said. “I told my husband that they understand the community, and they are meeting the needs of the community. I think it's really good.”
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Campestre Elementary School students receive free backpacks event photos