At Raphael House, we realize the importance of giving children a head start into the school year—especially children experiencing homelessness. Research shows that children without stable housing are more likely to show poor classroom engagement and social skills in school.
This year at our annual Back-to-School giveaway, we provided 173 children in our Residential Shelter and post-shelter Bridge Program with supplies to succeed in school. Thanks to our generous donors, we provided families with backpacks, binders, notebooks, pencils, and gift cards for school uniforms and other essential supplies.
Even for families who are stably housed, small expenses can take a toll on their financial stability. “It’s a dilemma and a challenge to afford basic necessities in the Bay Area,” a participating family said. “This Back to School giveaway makes it easier to sustain a basic lifestyle in a place like San Francisco.”
Thank you to all of our donors who made this annual giveaway possible, and to our dedicated volunteers (including the San Francisco City Football Club, plus our young donor Sabina and her family) who helped distribute supplies to families in need.