Remember the excitement of starting a new school year? Butterflies of excitement are common amongst students getting ready for the new school year; many of the under resourced students who attended this year’s Back 2 School Extravaganza felt those same butterflies with the addition of anxiety on whether they would get the school supplies they needed to get their school year off to a successful start. It became clear when the families arrived to this event that not only were they going to get stocked up on backpacks and school supplies, but they were also going to take home some memorable experiences.
One little girl looked into a mirror at the face painting station and saw a glittering butterfly staring back at her and her face lit up. Nearby, a boy moved from the free haircut station to the free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, his smile growing wider with every stop after a fresh haircut, a full stomach and a backpack of his choosing.
After a mom and dad with their three children finished visiting all the booths, they stopped one of the volunteers to express their gratitude as tears welled up in their eyes. The mom shared, “I just didn’t think the community cared this much. Just look at the number of people who have come together to support and bless our kids.” What may have seemed like a small act—a backpack, a haircut, a sandwich, a few hours of someone’s time—meant the world to them.
Executive Director Lisa Tuter saw that same care and support unfolding throughout the morning. “Today was so much more than gifting students with backpacks… That’s what made today extraordinary — kids were seen and celebrated.”
Board President Ron Perry said, “This is one of those reminders that the food bank is more than serving food, it’s serving people.”
That is exactly what our community did. They served people. They showed up. They poured out generosity. They created moments of joy for nearly 400 children—and reminded their families that they don’t have to walk through difficult seasons alone.
As Folsom Mayor Justin Raithel said, our community came together to “pour love on Folsom’s next generation.”
Sometimes, love looks like a backpack. Sometimes, it looks like a room full of people showing up. Sometimes, it looks like a family realizing just how deeply their community cares.
