Refugee students are well-equipped to start school this fall thanks to generous donations of backpacks and school supplies from local businesses and community groups. Together, four groups donated 250 backpacks filled with supplies, as well as Old Navy gift cards that will allow families to purchase school uniforms. 

The law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati was a returning supporter this year. For the past several summers, employees at the firm put together individualized school readiness donations for graduates of the IRC's Newcomer Summer School – a partnership with Tukwila School District. Students in this program are new to the U.S. and spent five weeks this summer learning English, strengthening academic skills, becoming familiar with US school norms, and exploring their new community.

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Youth volunteers from the Redmond Stake of the LDS Church fill backpacks with school supplies at their annual summer camp.
Photo: Heather Darrington/IRC

We’re also fortunate to have received two large donations from the LDS community, who support refugee families locally in many ways. The LDS stakes in Redmond and Kirkland each organized a donation drive, together gathering an astounding 175 backpacks filled with supplies! Youth volunteers at the Redmond stake’s summer camp for young women and girls worked together to fill all of their backpacks with supplies and wrote notes of encouragement to refugee students.

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Youth volunteers from the LDS community write messages of encouragement to refugee students.
Photo: Heather Darrington/IRC

Another group of young people contributed to the efforts, as well. Students and families from Forest Ridge School in Bellevue gathered 35 backpacks and school supplies, which have already been distributed to IRC Summer Camp participants. There's nothing more inspiring than young people in our community taking action to support fellow students!

Thank you to all of the community members who contributed to these donation drives and continue to stand with refugees!