By Mike Cisneros
As part of its ongoing commitment to helping others in need, the Capistrano Unified School District partnered with Irvine-based Families Forward to hand out more than 100 Thanksgiving food baskets on Nov. 19.
This year’s event was a drive-thru pick-up to minimize contact, with several masked volunteers who organized and distributed the baskets to grateful families.
The baskets included a $20 Ralph’s gift card and a bag of food including green beans, corn, stuffing, potatoes, gravy and other items for a Thanksgiving meal.
Margarita Vivas, Bilingual Special Programs Liaison, helped put on the event by working closely with school site Bilingual Community Liaisons and Office Managers to identify families in need, some who are identified as homeless.
The district then coordinated Families Forward, which donated the food, to help put the baskets together and schedule the delivery.
The food baskets are yet another way in which Capo Unified strives to make sure children and families are getting their needs met.
The district regularly works with Families Forward to support families in need, including donating backpacks and school supplies, distributing food baskets and sponsoring a holiday Adopt-A-Family gift program.
Earlier this year, Aliso Niguel High School students participated in a “Teens Fight Against Hunger” club in which they raised $1,200, purchased Walmart gift cards and distributed them to needy families within the district.
Capo Unified has also expanded its grab-and-go meal distribution to provide free food to all children 18 years and younger regardless of if they live in the district or not.