(CLAIR) – For The Need staff and other community organizations recently volunteered at the first Oxnard Union School District McKinney-Vento needs event. The event is aimed at providing essential items to students in need.
McKenny Vento ensures that students have access to necessities for their daily school routine, including socks, shoes, hairbrushes, hair ties, toothpaste, feminine products, and other essential items.
For The Need Executive Director, Dorina Timbol, attended the event not only as a volunteer but also to share information about the For The Need program.
“The response from families interested in participating in our workshops was overwhelming. There are so many kids in need,” she said.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law passed in 1987 and re-authorized in 2015, guarantees certain rights for homeless children, ensuring they have equal access to free, appropriate public education, including preschool education. The law allows homeless children to remain enrolled in their current school even if they move, and requires districts to provide transportation regardless of where a homeless child is living.
Some districts go above and beyond the legal requirements by providing free backpacks, school supplies, and hygiene items; keeping schools open late for a quiet, safe study environment; hiring social workers to help families find housing and navigate services; partnering with food banks and nonprofits to ensure access to essential items; and offering extra tutoring and academic counseling to homeless students.
The Oxnard Union School District’s McKinney-Vento needs event highlights Ventura County’s ongoing commitment to assisting students in need, providing them with essential resources and information about programs designed to help them succeed.
