LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – You could say that backpacks were stacked and overflowing in car trunks across the state. California International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (CA IORG) collected a total of 891 backpacks for A Place Called Home (APCH), an organization located in South Central Los Angeles dedicated to aiding underserved youth by giving them direction in education, arts, and overall well-being. Within less than a month, girls and adults throughout the state collected more backpacks than they could have dreamed of – 891 backpacks! A Place Called Home had only asked the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls to collect 500 backpacks, being satisfied with whatever amount of backpacks would come their way. But when the members, alumni, and supporters throughout California came together, they not only accomplished a phenomenal goal, they greatly exceeded it!

APCH helps youth take ownership of their lives and guides them in the right direction. One of their main focuses is helping their members stay in school and pursue a higher education and career. Backpacks are a fundamental necessity on every child’s back to school list and this backpack drive allows APCH to help its members have a fresh start at the beginning of the school year. CA IORG was excited to assist in this drive because it would help many children to achieve their full potential in school by helping them feel confident. Backpacks are one of the many ways that kids express themselves and when they have a new backpack, it gives them a boost of confidence that they otherwise wouldn’t have. This is just a small way of helping kids feel excited about school and learning and CA IORG is honored to be a part of it.

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a non-profit service organization for girls ages 11 to 20 that teaches girls to be leaders by building confidence and public speaking skills in a safe and fun environment. It teaches girls
to help others with service to create a better community. Each year, CA IORG’s Grand Worthy Advisor, or statewide president, chooses an organization to be the state’s Grand Service Project. This year, Grand Worthy Advisor Heidi Johnson has chosen A Place Called Home to be California Rainbow’s statewide service project. Throughout the year, assemblies throughout the state will collect money that will be donated to APCH in spring 2017. But the service for APCH doesn’t stop at donations like the backpack drive; CA IORG has found ways to support APCH on multiple levels, which is what the organization is about: giving back to your community and serving others.

California Rainbow encourages and inspires youth to come together to make a difference – like how its members joined forces to provide 891 students with new backpacks for the school year. Just think, changing others’ lives can be as simple as a backpack drive. For more information on California Rainbow, contact Dana Regier, Supreme Deputy, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in California at Dana.Regier@gocarainbow.org or Amy Kimes, Statewide Promotional and Marketing Team, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in California at 714.293.6135 – carainbowgirls@gmail.com.

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