Surrey non-profit distributes 1,400 backpacks to students in need at annual back-to-school event

More than 2,000 people attended City Dream Centre's annual back-to-school event in Surrey on Saturday, August 15, where staff and volunteers distributed 1,400 backpacks full of school supplies to students who attend inner-city schools.

Families began lining up as early as 6 a.m. to secure a backpack, with distribution starting at 10 a.m. at Lena Shaw Elementary. The event ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year, the charity gave away all backpacks within the first 90 minutes, so this year they adjusted their approach. "We decided we're just going to give to elementary kids, to help to make those backpacks go a little farther," said Loretta Hibbs, City Dream Centre founder and CEO.

This marks the ninth year the charity has held the event. Hibbs noted that community need continues to grow each year. "This event that we do is to help alleviate some of the stress for the families. If we can give some clothes for the kids and some backpacks for families. It's going to make a big difference, and it doesn't meet all their needs going back to school, but it shows them that we see you, we care, and we're here," Hibbs said.

Beyond backpacks and new clothes, children enjoyed bouncy castles, cornhole toss, face painting, and hot dog lunches. The event was entirely free and required no pre-registration. Families learned about the event through school flyers distributed at the end of the school year or by word of mouth. Several current and municipal-election-candidate politicians attended and handed out backpacks for a short time.

City Dream Centre collects school supply donations throughout the year. "We had somebody just this week donate 144 backpacks, so now we're able to give 1,400," Hibbs said.

Founded in 2016, City Dream Centre focuses on "the underprivileged and marginalized" in Surrey and beyond. Throughout the school year, the non-profit feeds 280 families in need in Surrey through a program vetting system run by the Surrey School District, providing food to families who would not otherwise have any on weekends. The charity also runs a mobile dental care bus—last year distributing $100,000 worth of free dentistry into the community—along with educational courses for parents and life-skills and education programs inside federal and provincial prisons.

The organization also operates a thrift store called For the Love of Thrifting at 106-19211 Fraser Highway, open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with 100 percent of proceeds going directly back into their programs. Visit citydreamcentre.com for more information.