Shasta County Child Support Services wants the public's help in filling some backpacks with basics such as pencils, binders and other items for children heading back to school in August.
August is Child Support Awareness Month and the backpack giveaway is open to families with an open case with the department. There are 11,600 open cases in Shasta County with families receiving some type of assistance from the department. So far there are only 20 to 25 backpacks in the Child Support Services lobby, according to Director Terri Morelock.
A majority of those backpacks were filled by staff members and Morelock said it had not crossed her mind to go to the public with the giveaway until a recent meeting.
Morelock discussed what her department has planned for the month at a board of supervisors meeting and Chairman Pam Giacomini asked where backpack donations could be sent. Then it clicked with Morelock to go outside of the office for more supplies.
"It became clear that we could ask the public. After we made that clear at the board meeting a woman brought in supplies," said Morelock. The last day for families to apply for the giveaway is Aug. 5 and winners will be drawn on Aug. 10. The department will accept items until 5 p.m. on Aug. 9.
Donations can be dropped off at the Child Support Services office at 2600 Park Marina Drive in Redding. Families can also pick up applications to be entered into the drawing.
Staff could have asked local businesses to donate or participate in the giveaway, but Morelock said because her department is not a charity there would be no tax write off to show for the donation.
"This is just a chance for people to take care of the children of Shasta County," she said.
California has the highest child poverty rate in the country and Shasta County has 38,906 children living below the poverty line, Morelock said.
The department determines paternity as well as collects and distributes child support. In the most recent fiscal year the department collected $19.63 million in child support.
"When you look at the state as whole, we have a lot of parents with children who are trying to make ends meet and they have an obligation to pay child support. Some people have a difficult time meeting that due to circumstances of the economy going south or they lost jobs or they are trying to take care of a family financially and emotionally."
To Help
What: Donations of school supplies and backpacks sought for backpacks to give to kids.
Where: Shasta County Department of Child Support Services, 2600 Park Marina Drive.
When: Backpacks and school supplies can be donated until 5 p.m. Aug. 9.
For more information: Call 229-8816
