ALAMOSA — In preparation for the school year, Adelante Family Resource Center, a program of La Puente, organized a School Supply Distribution where they distributed over 15,000 school items (not including pens and pencils) to 1,356 preK-12th grade students across seven school districts in the Valley.
To pull off this huge endeavor, Adelante partnered with American Legion 142, Bill Metz Elementary Monte Vista, City of Monte Vista, South Conejos School District, Moffat School District, Blanca Ft. Garland Rec Center, Sangre de Cristo School District, and Crestone Charter School.
“My goal for this event was not only to distribute school supplies but to provide students with the tools they need to succeed,” said Tara Bay, Director of Adelante Family Resource Center.
While La Puente has hosted successful backpack drives in previous years, it became apparent that the number of items students truly needed to thrive in the classroom exceeded what was provided. There were also issues with accessibility given the geographic size of the Valley is so large.
In revamping the event, Adelante — with the help of SLV Community Solutions — contacted local schools, identified which districts had families with the most need, consulted schools’ supplies lists, and ordered supplies that specifically met grade requirements.
Going one step further, providing several distribution sites across the Valley enabled more families to take advantage of this opportunity. People traveled to Antonito, San Luis, Mosca, Fort Garland, Monte Vista, Crestone, and Moffat to participate. Students chose their own grade-specific supplies, resulting in some students who left with a backpack full of everything pink, from pencil sharpeners to scissors to notebooks.
A family with 6 school-aged children praised the event saying, “This is a great program that’s supporting the community. We really appreciate it!”
According to a May CBS poll of 1,200 U.S. based parents of school-aged children, parents planned to spend an average of $586 per child on school items in 2024. According to data from the University of Colorado-Denver School of Public Affairs, the San Luis Valley is one of the poorest rural areas in the state, with a poverty rate estimated at around 21.4%. Adelante saw the need of the community and felt they had the resources to meet that need. Based on the reviews from attendees, Adelante got an A plus.
Adelante Family Resource Center is a program of La Puente that promotes the empowerment and stabilization of families. Adelante-supported families are offered individualized assistance to navigate resources and reach their goals. Services include assistance with housing, case management, referrals, improved access to counseling, and family advocacy.
Through supporting families as they seek to improve their quality of life and achieve healthy interdependence, Adelante seeks to be a resource center for all families who wish to flourish, especially those who need a bit of extra support to make their dreams a reality.
To learn more about Adelante Family Resource, visit lapuentehome.org/adelante or call 719-587-0538.
