As the bell rings on the first day of school, the echoing sound brings both dread and smiles to many children. Some kids are excited to see old friends and tell tales of summer adventures while others despise the thought of daily homework. But for 300,000 homeless children in California, they just wonder if they will get school supplies.
School on Wheels, Inc. has tutored homeless students since 1993 and will be attempting to create a Guinness World Record for the longest line of backpacks at Pepperdine University’s Alumni Park on Sept. 7. The backpacks will be donated to homeless children through the nonprofit organization.
“We decided to do something fun and different for our 20th birthday,” Sinead Chilton, School on Wheels spokesperson said. “We are going to line up over 2,000 backpacks next to the 9-11 flags on PCH in the shape of an ‘S.’”
Residents can participate in the event by donating $25 or by bringing a new backpack to the world record attempt. A tankard truck from the Ventura County Naval Base at Port Hueneme will deliver the backpacks to Pepperdine at noon on Sept. 7 and volunteers will create the ‘S’ for School on Wheels. Malibu Mayor Joan House will be on hand to officiate and verify the record challenge.
When Malibu resident and former teacher, Agnes Stevens, initially began School on Wheels in 1993, her intention was to provide one-on-one tutoring service to homeless children from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
Twenty years later, School on Wheels has tutored 2,000 students at 200 tutoring locations in 12 regions of Southern California. Chilton said the organization is desperate for backpacks at the beginning of the school year because of how many children are homeless in California.
“These 2,000 backpacks will help but not reach everyone,” Chilton said.
School on Wheels, in participation with Pepperdine’s volunteer center’s Step Forward Day, is putting on the backpack drive for the first time.
Pepperdine student and School on Wheels intern, Elise Webster, decided to attend Pepperdine for the volunteer program and is helping coordinate the event between both organizations.
“It’s a fun and exciting event that hasn’t been done before,” Webster said. “The backpacks will help [homeless children] keep up with the other students.”
Pepperdine is also celebrating the 25th anniversary of Step Forward Day of service. All of Pepperdine students, staff, faculty and alumni are invited to attend Step Forward Day.
Southwest Airlines is donating $1500, as well as backpacks, and Temple Judeah and Michael Opel are also donating 1,000 backpacks to School on Wheels.