Students receive special back-to-school welcome

RANCHO SANTA FE — For most teenagers, the beginning of another school year marks the end of summer and is not a day many look forward to with eagerness. Members of Friends of San Pasqual Academy made starting school fun for the foster teens of San Pasqual Academy with their Back-To-School event, held on the campus of San Pasqual Academy.
“The students call this day ’Shop ‘Til You Drop Day,’ since many items such as school supplies, back-packs, shoes, T-shirts, socks, hygiene items, clothing and more have been collected and donated to our foster students by numerous, caring individuals,” said Teri Summerhays, San Pasqual Academy board member. “These foster teens look forward to this event and are in awe of what everyone has provided for them. They greatly appreciate not just the ‘shopping selection process,’ but the presence of the wonderful volunteers that make this event happen.”
Upon entering the auditorium, each student was greeted by Heidi Hollen and Monica Sheets and given a shopping bag. Road Runner Sports, for the sixth consecutive year, donated 175 pairs of brand new athletic shoes, through Catherine Gotfredson. The students enjoyed picking out their quality shoes that had been selected by Michael and Fiona Gotfredson, owners of Road Runner Sports.
The auditorium was filled with items that had been collected, donated or created for the students of San Pasqual Academy by many generous individuals. Other donors that made Shop’Til You Drop a wonderful experience for the foster teens of San Pasqual Academy included:
— Donna Herrick collected beautiful brand new clothing for both girls and boys.
— Quentin and Alicia Jammer donated many brand new jeans.
— National Charity League Members collected lots of very useful and important school supplies. Summerhays was coordinator of this collection.
— Friends of San Pasqual Academy members purchased athletic shorts for all the kids. Socks, shoes, purses, hygiene items, boxers and more were also donated.
Friends of San Pasqual Academy offered up their thank you to the volunteers, who included Kris Mangano Simon, Andrea Reynolds, Donna Schempp, Kathy Lathrum, Alicia Jammer, Jolane Crawford, Catherine Gotfredson, Monica Sheets, Heidi Hollen, Carole Markstein, Teri Summerhays, Dagmar Helgager, Stacy Snyder, Debby Syverson, Joan Scott and National Charity League members.