Dental Hygiene students conduct lunch bag drive for kids

Dental Hygiene students on the Ontario campus jumped on board the San Bernardino Children’s Fund’s drive to provide thermal lunch bags for kids who needed a little extra help starting the school year well-equipped.

The Children’s Fund networks with Child Protective Services (CPS) and local foster care to help kids who are removed from their home, have lost their home because of a disaster, such as fire, or are displaced for other dire reasons.

“To help provide for these kids who have been taken out of their homes for whatever reason, was very rewarding,” says Bernadette Smith, Dental Hygiene instructor.

SJVC’s goal was to raise enough money to buy 31-lunch bags that they would fill with back-to-school necessities. Dental Hygiene students solicited sponsors on campus and elsewhere to make their goal.

“I tasked students with securing sponsors, and they really pounded the pavement asking for financial support,” says Bernadette.

“Our class took that challenge and stepped it up a notch where we all fundraised to purchase the lunch pails and school supplies that went in them,” says Becky Zwingman, Dental Hygiene student.

The students raised over $1,000., which allowed them to buy and stuff a record-breaking 54 lunch bags.

Everybody pitched in to make sure each bag contained staples such as paper, pencils, pens, notebooks, glue sticks, folders and a few personal items such as tissue and a toothbrush.

“It was a collaborative effort amongst my whole class,” says Becky. “Being given the opportunity to help others, we all latched on and were all in!”

The highlight of the fundraising event was when Bernadette and her Dental Hygiene students went to the Children’s Fund to present their bursting-at-the-seams lunch bags. “The staff was so appreciative and happy to have our support,” she says.

It was a feel-good moment for everyone involved. “Knowing you are able to make a difference in someone’s life, even if it’s something as small as a lunch pail stuffed with school supplies, is a humbling experience and makes you reevaluate your own life,” says Becky.

The Ontario campus has big plans ahead for the holidays and will sponsor a family, as well as hold a toy drive on campus.

The spirit of giving runs all year round on this community-minded campus.