BALDWIN PARK – Students from Baldwin Park Unified’s Charles Bursch Elementary School sifted through hundreds of backpacks to find the perfect one on Aug. 13 during Kaiser Permanente’s ninth annual Backpack and School Supply Donation Campaign.

Kaiser Permanente’s Baldwin Park Medical Center provided select students at Bursch Elementary, Holland Middle School and Baldwin Park High School with more than 375 backpacks filled with grade-specific school supplies.

Superheroes, unicorns, mermaids and polka dots were the top grabs for many of the younger students, while high schoolers selected more practical packs.

“I like this event because you get a free backpack that you can put all your stuff in,” Holland seventh-grader Ovidio Melgar said. “I like math, so I can put all my math books in here.”

Each backpack was stuffed with a variety of school supplies, which included notebooks, binders, colored pencils, highlighters and pencil boxes.

Kaiser Permanente’s doctors, nurses and other hospital employees donated the backpacks and supplies. Each participating school received 125 backpacks. John Nguyen, a 13-year emergency room physician, has participated in the campaign since it began in 2009.

“I grew up without a lot of luxuries,” Nguyen said. “School starting was always a fun time for me and I hope that these kids can enjoy their backpacks and make some memories this school year.”

Baldwin Park Unified teamed with Kaiser Permanente to ensure students would be ready to start the school year with the necessary supplies. Each year, three different schools are selected for the giveaway.

“We are so grateful to have a strong partnership with Kaiser Permanente,” Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza said. “Their continuous support and generosity help to ensure that our students are prepared and ready for the school year.”

PHOTOS

BPUSD_BACKPACK_1: Students from Baldwin Park Unified’s Holland Middle School searched for their perfect backpacks on Aug. 13 during Kaiser Permanente’s ninth annual Backpack and School Supply Donation Campaign. Pictured are, from left, Baldwin Park Unified Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center’s Chief Operating Officer Michelle Nowicki, Holland Middle School Principal Mike Rust and Holland sixth-grader Emily Campos.

BPUSD_BACKPACK_2: Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center volunteers help a Charles Bursch Elementary School student choose a backpack during the ninth annual Backpack and School Supply Donation Campaign on Aug. 13.