Estée Song (left) and Connie Chung Joe (right) shared that KFAM hopes to provide 300 sets of new backpacks and school supplies for children in foster homes.
Korean American Family Services is awaiting those who will provide the gifts of new backpacks and school supplies to children of foster families. The organization that has embraced many of the hurts in Korean immigrant families by addressing issues such as domestic violence has hosted a backpack drive since 2014.
The backpack drive aims to give new backpacks and school supplies to children in foster homes that are undergoing financial difficulties. There are several ways a potential supporter can participate. One can donate $50 to Korean American Family Services (KFAM), which would provide a child with a $25 backpack, and $25 worth of school supplies. A supporter could also personally buy backpacks and supplies and bring them to KFAM. Some of the required school supplies include a pen, pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener, 3-ring binder, ruler, and scissors, among others.
Estée Song, the project manager of the Korean Foster Family Initative (KFFI) of KFAM, said, "Students who start the school year with ragged backpacks or old school supplies are often treated badly by other peers, or even bullied."
"We encourage the Korean community to take part in this event and share their love," Song added.
Currently, some 60 Korean children are under the Los Angeles County's Department of Children and Family Services, the office of which is located in Covina. The backpack drive aims to provide the backpacks and school supplies not only to Korean students, but to Asian students in general who are under the LA DCFS.
Last year, KFAM set a goal to provide 100 backpacks with school supplies, but were able to provide 336. As a result, they decided to set the bar high this year to 300 backpacks with supplies.
"Last year, we thought we wouldn't be able to reach our goal of 100 sets of backpacks and supplies, but with the warm generosity of the Korean community, we were able to go way beyond that and provide over 300 sets. So we set a higher goal this year," said Connie Chung Joe, the executive director of KFAM.
"Those who want to participate can do so by giving us the funds, but I think it would be even more meaningful of parents with their children went and personally bought the backpacks and school supplies to give to the children," Joe added.
Those who are interested in participating in the drive can do so until the July 31st deadline, and can send funds to 3727 W. 6th St. #320, Los Angeles, CA, 90020. Funds in checks should be payable to "KFAM," and should have "backpack drive" on the memo line. Funds can also be delivered online at www.kfamla.org.
KFAM, which began in 1983, focuses on strengthening Korean American families in Los Angeles through counseling, education, and other services.
