Backpack Drive_Annual Event

BACKPACK DRIVE : 

Organized by  BAY AREA SRI LANKAN YOUTH from  MILPITAS, BERKELEY, SACRAMENTO and SANTA CLARA Temples !!!

Bay Area Sri Lankan Youth Organization

BACKPACK DRIVE -2018 (Second Year)

 
Subject: Backpack Drive Delivery
Date: Wed, August 15, 2018 5:05 pm
To: temple@buddhistvihara.net
 
Hello everyone,
The Bay Area Sri Lankan Youth would like to thank everyone for participating in the 2018 Backpack Drive. We were able to donate 150 backpacks with school supplies to four disadvantaged schools in Salinas County. We are appreciative for the kind and generous support from all the donors across the four temples:  Dharmapala Institute- Milpitas, Berkeley Buddhist Vihara-Richmond, Buddhi Vihara – Santa Clara, and American Buddhist Seminary- Sacramento. This drive would not have been possible without you. We would especially like to thank all the children who helped to make this drive a success. Looking forward to great accomplishments next year as well!
Sincerely,
Pramodi Rajapakse
Project Coordinator
Sri Lankan Youth Organization
 
Here are a few pictures from the event.   
 
 
Subject: 2018 Backpack Drive
Date: Thu, July 12, 2018 11:32 am
To: temple@buddhistvihara.net

Hello everyone,
For our 2018 Backpack Drive, the Bay Area Sri Lankan Youth are trying to collect 100 backpacks. The last day to donate will be August 11. This is a list of items we would like to include in each backpack:
  • Backpack
  • Pencil Pouch/Case
  • Pencils
  • Crayons
  • Colored Pencils
  • Pens (Black, Blue, & Red)
  • Eraser
  • Gluestick
  • Scissor
  • Ruler
  • Notebook
  • Folder
Each backpack with supplies costs about $30. Any supplies donated would be greatly appreciated. We also accept monetary donations via cash or checks. Please make any checks payable to Dharmapala Institute, and write 2018 Backpack Drive in the Memo. Thank you!
Sincerely,

Pramodi Rajapakse
Project Coordinator
Sri Lankan Youth Organization

Subject: Backpack Drive 2018
Date: Sat, May 19, 2018 4:53 pm
To: temple@buddhistvihara.net

2018 Backpack Drive
Hello! This year the Bay Area Sri Lankan Youth are again working on a project to donate school supplies and backpacks to a disadvantaged elementary school in Salinas, California.
WHAT TO DONATE: Any backpacks and school supplies would be great!
Supplies include: Pencils, Pens (Black, Blue, Red), Pencil Boxes, Pencil Sharpeners, Erasers, Folders, Binders, Binder Paper, Scissors, Glue Sticks, etc.
WHERE:  Buddhi Vihara- Santa Clara,  Dharmapala Institute- Milpitas, Berkeley Buddhist Vihara- Richmond, and American Buddhist Seminary- Sacramento. All 4 of these temples will have a box where you can drop off any backpacks or school supplies.
WHEN: Now-Mid August
MONETARY DONATIONS: Accepting cash or checks. Please make any checks payable to a temple of your choice, and write 2018 Backpack Drive in the Memo.
 

BACKPACK DRIVE -2017 (First Year) 

 
The Bay Area Sri Lankan Youth has been collecting supplies for our Backpack Drive for the last few months. However, our drive will be ending on July 31st. We will be delivering the backpacks and supplies to the migrant encampment in Hollister during the first week of August. As back to school season is already here, we would like to encourage families to donate any backpacks or supplies to one of the four temples. We are currently below our goal of 100 backpacks, and would be very appreciative of any material or monetary donations. Please make any checks payable to a temple of your choice, and write 2017 Backpack Drive in the Memo. Thank you to those who have already spent time and money for such an important cause!
 
 
 
 
Bay Area Temple Coordinators:
 
Milpitas: Ishan Pathirana (408)-674-3498
Berkeley: Dilki Pattiyage (510)-701-1380
Sacramento: Ramidu Rekawa (925)-964-7959
Santa Clara: Chirathma Kodikara (408)-497-9153
 
Project Coordinator : Pramodi Rajapakse
 
~Bay Area Youth Organization
 

Project Details/Update :

Subject: Fwd: 2017 BACKPACK DRIVE Update
Date: Thu, September 21, 2017 7:52 pmThe Bay Area Sri Lankan Youth would like to thank everyone who donated to the 2017 Backpack Drive. We were able to raise over $1400 in funds and exceeded our goal of 100 supplied-filled backpacks. The students in Salinas County Sherwood Elementary School kids were very grateful for your donations and we plan to continue this drive next year as well.            Thank you for your support.~Bay Area Youth Organization

Project Details from Facebook Page
All the Backpacks have been sorted.  Thank you to everyone who donated and helped us to make a difference! Although what we have done was small compared to the rest of the world, it was the result of a rippling effect started by others across the ocean and even people here who strive for change.
       
Distribution:  We managed to donate 110 backpacks and 3 boxes of school supplies to Sherwood Elementary School kids in Salinas. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped us to make a difference in the lives of these elementary schoolers. Area coordinators Ishan Pathirana, Ramidu Rekawa, and Chirathma Kodikara as well as organizers Dunilka Ratnayaka and Udara Kodikara could not attend but managed to send a message of love and hope to the children just like everyone else.

School district Board recognition:  Ishan Pathirana went to accept a certificate of appreciation from Salinas City Elementary School District on behalf of the Bay Area Sri Lankan community. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this project. Let’s keep making a difference in the lives of others.
      
                    BACKPACK DRIVE