What started as a grassroots act of care in 2020 has grown into a major community effort to support Santa Barbara students and families. Now in its sixth year, the Santa Barbara School Supply Drive is gearing up once again — aiming to raise $5,000 to distribute free backpacks and school supplies ahead of the new school year.
The giveaway will take place on Saturday, August 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ortega Park. In addition to backpacks, the event will include art activities, resource tables, and a special appearance by the “Barrio Bus,” a mobile art space created by the Turning Wheel Project based in San Diego.
Organizer Valerie Jaimes, who grew up on the Eastside and graduated from Santa Barbara High School, said the idea was born from a desire to close the resource gap she saw among her peers…