JJAB team members sorting school supplies in 2023. Courtesy/JJAB

JJAB Resource Specialists Santina Shije and Siri Anand Khalsa filling backpacks with school supplies in 2023. Courtesy/JJAB

JJAB team members posing with receipt for school supplies purchased for 2023 supply drive. Courtesy/JJAB

Los Alamos JJAB  News:

Though the summer is just beginning, back-to-school season will be here before we know it! As in years past, Los Alamos JJAB is continuing its efforts to support Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) and its students, and is asking the community to join in helping to provide school supplies to students in need for the 2024-2025 school year.

Since 2017, JJAB has been raising funds to provide LAPS students with essential school supplies such as backpacks, pencils, pens, notebooks, graphing paper, crayons, folders, Clorox wipes, tissues and headphones. Thanks to the generous support of local businesses and individual donors last year, JJAB provided 60 youth with these critical school supplies.

“At JJAB, we strive to surround every youth we serve with support,” JJAB Executive Director Rachel Mohr-Richards said. “Our goal with the school supply drive is to overcome barriers that prevent students from getting the supplies they need to engage at school fully. We want youth to feel supported and valued by their community, and providing these school supplies is an important way to communicate this to them.”

Community members are being asked to make financial donations to be used exclusively to purchase the supplies. JJAB Resource Specialists will work closely with client families, school counselors and community organizations to identify students in need. As finances allow, JJAB will then purchase the requested items and ensure they are delivered directly to the students and schools.

There are two ways community members can donate to support this project:

• Donate through the JJAB website at www.losalamosjjab.com; or
• Mail a check to Los Alamos JJAB, PO Box 4716, Los Alamos, NM 87547. Make checks payable to  Los Alamos JJAB and note “school supplies” on the check. To ensure supplies are ready for the start of school, JJAB should receive checks by July 5, 2024.

JJAB is grateful for the continued support it receives from the community.

Please direct questions to 505.709.8125. All funds donated will go directly to purchasing school supplies for the 2024-2025 year.

About Los Alamos JJAB:

Los Alamos JJAB is a local 503(c) non-profit focusing on the needs of youth with an emphasis on reducing youth risk behaviors, facilitating positive youth development, and building resiliency.