Sunny Glen’s Back to School Drive exists for one simple reason: every child deserves to walk through those school doors feeling ready.
The night before school starts should feel exciting. For most kids, it means laying out a new outfit, packing a fresh backpack, and barely sleeping because morning can’t come fast enough. But for children who’ve experienced trauma, neglect, or instability, that night can feel very different. It can feel like one more reminder of everything that’s been hard.
That’s why Sunny Glen Children’s Home in San Benito does this drive every year. Because we believe every child in our care deserves to start the year feeling valued and seen. And because we’ve watched what happens when they do. When you give to this drive, you’re not just sending supplies. You’re sending a message that someone believes in a child’s future.
What It Means to Walk In Prepared
Think about the last time you started something new. A new job, a move, a big transition. Now imagine doing that without the right tools, in clothes that don’t fit, while already carrying everything you’ve been through.
That’s the reality for many of the children we serve. They arrive at Sunny Glen having faced some of the hardest things a child can face. Neglect. Abuse. Instability. The classroom can feel like one more place where they don’t quite belong.
Preparation changes that. When a child walks in with a full backpack, clean clothes, and supplies that are genuinely theirs, something shifts. They’re not worried about standing out. They’re not distracted by what they’re missing. They can focus on what matters: learning, connecting with friends, and building the kind of confidence that sticks.
It sounds simple. But for a child who has had very little that was truly their own, a notebook with their name on it carries real meaning.
Ninety Years of Showing Up for Children
Sunny Glen Children’s Home has been doing this work since 1936. That’s nine decades of opening our doors to children who had nowhere safe to go.
Over those years, we’ve supported more than 25,000 children. We offer 24-hour residential care, professional counseling, and a stable community for children from birth through age 18. Every child here receives structure, support, and the steady message that they matter.
Our work begins with a belief that every child is seen and loved by God. That belief is woven into the rhythm of daily life here, into shared meals, scripture, worship, and the kind of everyday care that shows a child God’s love in practical, tangible ways. We don’t just tell them they’re valued. We try to show it in everything we do, including making sure they’re ready for the first day of school. If you want to understand how that plays out across every part of life here, this is a good place to start.
How Sunny Glen’s Back to School Drive Equips Every Child
Sunny Glen’s Back to School Drive gives donors a clear, direct way to meet a real need. Every gift goes straight to the children in our care. No guesswork. No middleman.
Here’s what your giving looks like in practice.
$50 — School Supplies Care Bundle
Notebooks, binders, writing utensils, and art supplies. Everything a child needs in order to start class and get to work from day one.
$75 — School Shirt Bundle
A full week’s worth of uniform shirts for an elementary-age child. That means five mornings where they don’t have to wonder what they’re going to wear or whether what they have is clean.
$150 — Complete Uniform Care Bundle
A full weekly set of uniform pants, shirts, footwear, socks, and undergarments. Complete care, from the ground up.
No amount is too small. Every dollar moves us closer to making sure no child at Sunny Glen starts the school year without what they need. Give today and help us get there.
How Your Community Can Get Involved
This drive only works because people like you choose to get involved. Donors, volunteers, and community members all play a role in what we’re able to do here.
Explore volunteer opportunities on our site. If a financial gift isn’t possible right now, sharing this campaign on Facebook, X, or by email has a real impact. Every share puts this need in front of someone who might be ready to give.
You can also contact the team directly if you want to connect, ask questions, or explore other ways to support our children.
What Your Gift Actually Does
When a child who has been through hard things picks up a backpack that belongs entirely to them, something real happens. They stand a little straighter. They feel a little more like someone worth investing in.
That feeling follows them into the classroom. It shows up in how they engage with their teacher, how they interact with classmates, and how they begin to imagine their own future. A backpack is a practical item. But for a child who has wondered whether anyone cares, it’s also a statement. It says: your future matters. Someone saw that and did something about it. Your gift makes that moment possible.
Be Part of Sunny Glen’s Back to School Drive
Every child at Sunny Glen deserves to start the school year with confidence. Make a donation today and help us make sure no child walks in unprepared. Whether you give $50 or share this page with one friend, you’re extending God’s love in a way that a child will carry with them long after the first bell rings.
For nearly 90 years, people who care about children have made this work possible. You’re part of that story now too. Let’s make sure every child at Sunny Glen walks into this school year ready.
How do I donate to Sunny Glen’s Back to School Drive?
You can give directly and securely through our online giving page. Specific giving levels are available: $50 for a School Supplies Care Bundle, $75 for a School Shirt Bundle, and $150 for a Complete Uniform Care Bundle. Any amount is put to work for the children in our care, so don’t let a smaller gift hold you back from giving.
Can I help if I’m not able to donate money right now?
Absolutely. Sharing the campaign on social media or by email is one of the most impactful things you can do. Using the sharing links on our giving page to spread the word on Facebook, X, or through personal email puts this need in front of people who may be ready to give.
How long has Sunny Glen Children’s Home been serving children?
Sunny Glen has been serving vulnerable children since 1936. Over nearly 90 years, we’ve supported more than 25,000 children through residential care, counseling, and a range of programs designed to bring healing and stability to kids who need it most.
How can I learn more about Sunny Glen’s mission and programs?
Visit us at sunnyglen.org to explore our story, values, and ministries. You’re also welcome to reach out through our contact page. We love hearing from people who care about children and want to understand how we can work together.