Spectrum News Features Back to School Event in Ventura County
Contact: Sinead Chilton
Email: schilton@schoolonwheels.org
Phone: 213 905 2777
School on Wheels Back to School Event in Ventura County
An event held in partnership with Catholic Charities of Ventura County brought together local organizations to equip underserved students with school supplies.
VENTURA, Calif. — School on Wheels, a nonprofit dedicated to the educational success of children experiencing homelessness, hosted its annual Back to School event in Ventura on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Approximately 100 students and families attended the event to receive backpacks, school supplies, and toys ahead of the new academic year.
The event was held in partnership with Catholic Charities of Ventura County, with additional support from community partners including the Westside Community Development Corporation, LinkedIn (Carpinteria Office), Mission Church, Ventura, Ventura County Office of Education, and Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU).
Sage Publications donated 500 backpacks filled with school supplies, packed by their employees with personal messages for the students. VCCU hosted a booth and is currently running a backpack and school-supply drive at all its branches, with all items being donated to School on Wheels.
Students who attended received a backpack filled with supplies for the start of the school year. For many of the children served by School on Wheels — who are living in shelters, motels, vehicles, or other unstable housing — a fully stocked backpack can make a meaningful difference in how they experience their first days of school.
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped students shop for back-to-school.
“It is so humbling to see how our community comes together every year to support our unhoused students and their families. To see the kids’ faces light up when they pick their own backpack and fill it with the supplies they need is the highlight of my year. Thank you so much to all our volunteers, donors, and supporters who make this possible.” – Sinead Chilton, Chief Development Officer, School on Wheels
ABOUT SCHOOL ON WHEELS: School on Wheels, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 by Agnes Stevens, a retired teacher. Today, hundreds of volunteers work one-on-one with children whose homelessness prevents them from receiving the academic stability and help they desperately need. The mission of School on Wheels is to enhance educational opportunities for children who are experiencing homelessness from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The goal is to shrink the gaps in their education and provide them with the highest level of education possible. The program spans six counties in Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Ventura, as well as a learning center in Skid Row.