VALLEY —La Puente believes in the power of education and promoting education is key way La Puente works to address homelessness in the SLV. One in three children grows up in poverty in the San Luis Valley. This means that families have to choose between essential bills and school supplies. A choice no parent should have to make. Last year La Puente gave out 600 Backpacks filled with supplies to students in the SLV so that they had the tools needed to be successful in school. 

La Puente needs the community’s help to reach the goal of 600 backpacks. They have partnered with the Dylan R. Brown’s Agency to collect school supplies to fill each backpack with the necessities for a successful school year. They are accepting donations of notebooks, crayons, colored pencils, erasers, pencils, and blue/black pens.

As of the start of August, they have a small amount of donations so far and they can only reach our goal with the help of the community. Donations can be dropped off at the La Puente Outreach office located at 929 State Ave. or at the Dylan Brown Agency 2415 Mullins Ave., Unit 6. Distribution of backpacks will be on Aug. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Rainbow’s Ends locations in Alamosa, Monte Vista and Center.

La Puente believes that a good education is a building block to a bright future.