Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury visited Rosemary Anderson High School's East County campus on Aug. 27 to support the "We Got Your Back!" campaign.
Hundreds of families and children showed up at the event which was organized by POIC and the high school. Students and their families received backpacks filled with school supplies in anticipation of schools around the county opening next week. Office Depot/Office Max and The Boeing Company, along with others, donated enough backpacks and supplies to help 1,500 children from all grades.
Rosemary Anderson High School/POIC "knows what struggling families need," Chair Kafoury said. "Parents right now are worried that their kids won't have the necessary school supplies to start the year off on the right foot. POIC's event will improve children's readiness to learn which gives a big boost to our community."
As part of the "We Got Your Back!" event, families were treated to lunch and were able to sign up for a variety of programs, including free medical screenings.
Rosemary Anderson High School and POIC serve some of the county's most disengaged and at-risk youth by providing a high quality alternative education. Joe McFerrin serves as the president and chief executive of the organization.