Children Get Free Backpacks, School Supplies and Health Screenings

Dozens of kids and families received free backpacks and health screenings – and enjoyed free face painting and other fun activities – during a Back-to-School Resource Fair in Panorama City.

The July 20 event was one of 16 back-to-school giveaways launched earlier this month at Community Resource Centers jointly operated by L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise health plans. The four-hour resource fairs – which are open to the public – are being offered on select dates across LA County through Aug. 17.

At the Panorama City event – the only one offered in the San Fernando Valley – children received backpacks filled with basic school supplies, including notebooks, pens and pencils.

Participating kids and families also had the opportunity to receive free haircuts and enjoyed rock climbing, face painting and a photo booth. In addition, the event provided information and enrollment support for health care coverage – including Medi-Cal and Covered California – and nutrition support via CalFresh and WIC programs.

Free health screenings were also available. Among the 52 dental screenings that were provided, five emergency situations were found and families were helped with same-day appointments and other dental follow-ups within the week. They also conducted 106 vision screenings and 115 hearing screenings, and offered information on community partners for follow-up exams.

Judy Hsieh Bigman, manager of the Community Resource Center in Panorama City, said they offer the yearly back-to-school events to help support families who are facing financial challenges, to help ease the “strain on their budgets” as they prepare their children for the new school year.

“We also know that kids are more confident and likely to succeed when they begin the school year with the supplies and resources they need,” said Bigman. 

“When students are better prepared for school, they are more confident and more likely to succeed in school, and that’s a big win for everyone,” added John Baackes, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan. 

The Community Resource Centers are expected to give away nearly 18,000 backpacks this summer. The annual back-to-school events are held across LA County, and almost 90,000 students have received free backpacks and supplies since the program began five years ago.

For the full list of remaining L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Back-to-School Resource Fairs – being held at Community Resource Centers located from Long Beach to Palmdale through Saturday, Aug. 17 – go to: www.CommunityResourceCenterLA.org/backtoschool.