Clothing bank, otherwise known as Angela’s Closet, and Hygiene Hub (photo by Angela Acuna)
Christa Quackenbush
Bake Sale Nov. 15—Helping Local Kids Succeed in School
If education is the key to opportunity, how do we unlock it for families experiencing homelessness—families living in unsafe or temporary shelters, who often struggle to put food on the table, especially on weekends when school meals aren’t available?
For parents working irregular hours at low-wage jobs without benefits it can be a constant balancing act between work and caring for their children’s needs. And kids grow fast—there’s often not enough money for new shoes, warm coats, or school supplies.
That’s where Angela Acuna and Debbie Brown, McKinney-Vento Liaisons for the Eloy and Toltec School Districts respectively, step in.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is a federal law that aims to ensure that children experiencing homelessness have equal access to the same free public education as their peers. Every school district is required to have a McKinney-Vento Liaison to work with families to make sure children are enrolled in school, get free school meals and school supplies, and transportation to school if needed.
In both Eloy and Toltec, the need far outpaces the funding. Last year Angela reported she was serving 25 families in Eloy. Currently she has 15. But she knows that number will grow. Debbie is working with six families. With prices for almost everything going up and funding decreasing, donations will have to stretch further. They rely on a variety of partnerships with local charities and support from the community to fill the gaps.
Twice a year, the Democratic Club of Robson Ranch hosts a giant bake sale at the Arts and Crafts Fair. Hundreds of cookies, dozens of pies, and mountains of muffins, scones, and breads—all baked from scratch—are sold to support local families in need.
In past years, all proceeds benefited the Parent Support Center in Eloy. Thanks to strong community support, this year’s fundraiser will also benefit families in Toltec!
Your donations help stock food pantries; provide shoes, socks, clothing, coats, hygiene products, and home goods; connect parents to resources like job search assistance, counseling, and parenting classes; and help provide holiday meals—just to name a few ways your generosity makes a difference. And when students prepare for promotions or graduation, clothes are provided so they feel confident on their big day!
Shop our Bake Sale Bonanza!
Baked goods will be on sale Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or as long as supplies last! Find our table in the hallway outside the Arts and Crafts Fair at the Hermosa Ballroom.
Indulge guilt-free—every cookie, pie, and loaf you buy directly supports programs and resources that help local students thrive. Together, we can bake a better future for our community’s kids.