Students help their own with school supply donations

The middle school students at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village will provide backpacks stuffed with school supplies for Ventura County children in need.

At The Dream Fund Outreach's inaugural Educator's JOY Awards last year, teachers expressed concern for children who cannot afford basic school supplies. A large number of these children are not only handicapped in doing the work required, but they are often ridiculed by fellow students.

Santa Barbara's Miss Outstanding Teen Carley Ryckman, who was assisting at the awards event, approached Paula Phillips, TDFO's founder and director, about setting up a backpack drive at her school.

In January, Ryckman and Phillips challenged the Oaks Christian middle schoolers to collect 50 school supplystuffed backpacks by Valentine's Day. The students responded by turning in 100 backpacks stuffed with supplies.

The Dream Fund Outreach works with children in schools, classrooms, and youth organizations locally and around the country. For information, call (805) 582-2482 or (805) 501-4889.