Eighth District Councilmember Al Austin (second from left) and volunteers from the Making Connections Alliance prepare to give out hundreds of free backpacks and school supplies to students at the Back-to-School Summer Blast event last Saturday at “Pops” Davenport Park. The event also included health screenings, vaccinations, haircuts, sports instruction and free food.
“This event is a great opportunity for the community to partner with families to ensure our kids are healthy and have the tools to learn and be prepared for school,” Austin said.
The Making Connections Alliance was started as a way to bring social service coordinators and property managers of local affordable housing developments together. The affordable housing developments that took part in the event included Northpointe Apartment Homes, Andy St. Community Association, Pacific City Lights, Family Commons of the Villages at Cabrillo, and Long Beach & Burnett Apartments.
