ANDREA DAI

08/25/2019 - Maya Puls, 6, an incoming first grader, made her way down to César E. Chávez Elementary School Sunday, Aug. 25. The last week of summer vacation, the school was not open to welcome new students, but she was ready to start her new school life.

 

“I got face painting, water and free snacks. I played with bubbles. I got to choose my own backpack as well,” said Maya, with joy all over her face. “I am very happy.”

 

She was not alone. More than 300 kids in the Eugene community were there together, joining the annual Project Hope Kids’ Fair.

 

First launched by the local community faith organization One Hope in 2011, Project Hope has collaborated with neighborhood public schools, churches and business partners to serve the families and children in need on the last weekend every August. They hand out free backpacks, shoes and school supplies to meet the tangible needs of students returning back to school, along with a fun-filled environment with entertainment to leave them a sweet summer memory.

 

Each year, Project Hope Kids’ Fair takes place in four school districts, Junction City, Bethel, Eugene 4J and Springfield, respectively. With thousands of volunteers from more than 30 local businesses and 60 churches collaborating, the project aims to remove barriers for low-income students to begin the school year well equipped.

 

Apparently, kids were not the only one who benefited from the project. Sheena Puls, 34, Maya’s mother, said she was really grateful. “It definitely helps single mothers like myself to get kids things that they might not be able to have,” she said. “I got bills to pay, and I can’t afford to pay for all these [school supplies], so it really helps out. It gives both the parents and the children hope.”

 

To ensure that the students in need are fully served, everyone who comes to the Kids’ Fair must have a ticket, according to Kaylee Luna, the communications coordinator in One Hope. The number of tickets is determined by the amount of money raised by community partners, and the tickets will be given to the school district offices who work with principals and counselors to carefully select and distribute tickets to the families with the greatest need.

 

Tony Brown, 61, a foster parent of seven, received the opportunity. “We are primarily here for the backpacks and the school supplies. Big expenditure for foster parents,” said Brown. “It is good to get something free, to alleviate our financial burdens. And you can see churches, people, all collectively joining together to do this program. I think they are doing excellent jobs.”

 

Through the combined efforts in 2018, Project Hope had served over 3,300 kids and received help from more than 1,300 volunteers. Local businesses and foundations contributed funds for new shoes, churches raised funds for backpacks and school supplies, and volunteers from all partnering groups facilitated the giveaways together.

 

Local restaurants and hairdressers were also willing to donate their time and skills to this event. Back-to-school haircut and small meals were provided for the participants while waiting for the giveaways. Moreover, they were welcomed to the playground to enjoy all the activities hosted by cheerful volunteers, including line games, nails and face painting, inflatables, and even a magic show.

 

Besides giving out material things and services, the project has dedicated to improving the facilities to assure that the school grounds are safe and ready. The school administrators and custodians can provide a “wish lists” of specific maintenance projects, such as painting walls, trimming lawns and sprucing up classrooms, and the partner churches will organize a group of volunteers to accomplish the tasks, known as the School Work Day, which usually kicks off the day before the Kids’ Fair.

 

“It is powerful, impactful, and it gives me a lot of joy to be able to help out," said Kallin Benson, 34, who has been volunteering in this project for 8 years with his wife. He learned the project at his church, and soon determined this was something he had to and wanted to do.

 

Finding warmhearted helpers like Benson or charitable donations was not hard, however, putting so many people and resources together in a single day was never an easy thing, at least for Calvin Yue, the coordinator who represented Eugene Chinese Church, one of the churches that supported the event. “It is a big deal. You have to talk to 150 people at one meeting. It is hard not to get anxious, but you just have to try. Afterward, it always makes me feel fulfilled and good.”

 

“We hope the kids can do things that they can’t usually afford to have and to do, such as school supplies, carnival games, just these kinds of extracurricular activities that most of us take for granted,” said Yue. “It is simply a project that wants to give people hope, and shows the love to the community.”