Manos de Cristo’s 2015 Back-to-School Program Prepares~More than 2,000 Low-Income Children for School

Each year Manos de Cristo helps thousands of Central Texas children, Pre-K through 5th grades get ready for school at its annual Back-to-School program. The program prepares low-income students for the school year by providing each child with two sets of new clothing, socks, underwear, and a brand new backpack filled with school supplies.

WHEN: July 20-24; 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday; 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., Friday (While supplies last.)

WHERE: Allan Elementary School, 4900 Gonzales St., Austin, TX 78702 (Bus options: #4-Montopolis or #350-Airport Blvd.)
WHAT: Families in need begin lining up as early as 2:00 a.m. for the first come, first served back to school clothing and supplies. Community volunteers will help move 400 children each day through the program.

The costs of preparing students to go back to school are beyond the reach of thousands of low-income, working poor families in our area. Fortunately, Manos is here to lend a helping hand. For approximately 20 years, the Back-to-School program has made an impact.

Children living with the stress of poverty often worry about going back to school. One grandmother, who brought her granddaughter last year, was happy to have Manos’ help, “This helps a lot. I don’t make much as a home health care worker, so when the paycheck comes there’s really nothing left for school supplies or school clothes, or anything.”

Julie Ballesteros, Executive Director of Manos de Cristo, shared her passion about this year’s program, “As most children get excited about returning to school, there are always children who dread it because they do not feel prepared. Getting a child ready for school often becomes a financial burden on families who struggle just to make ends meet. Manos de Cristo wants to ensure that all children are eager and excited to return to school.”

New this year will be free dental screenings for participating Back-to-School students. Back-to-School takes place over five days, July 20 – 24 at Allan Elementary School, 4900 Gonzales St. The program is sponsored in part by the Maximus Foundation. If you’re interested in helping to prepare a child for school by underwriting the cost of their clothing and supplies, please visit our website at http://www.manosdecristo.org.

About Manos de Cristo: Founded 27 years ago in 1988, Manos meets the essential needs of the working poor by
providing adults and children with low-fee dental care, educational opportunities, and emergency food and clothing. Manos operates a full service dental center, hosts a wide range of adult education classes, and holds an annual program to prepare young children for school with new clothing and school supplies, and houses a food pantry, a clothes closet.
http://www.manosdecristo.org

Contact: Mary Alice Carnes, Communications Manager

Phone: (512) 628-4205, Cell: (512) 658-8665

Email: mcarnes@manosdecristo.org