WASHINGTON – During a back-to-school rally on Saturday, employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) headquarters distributed 224 backpacks filled with school supplies and 50 laptop totes to families living in Southeast District of Columbia (DC) Housing Authority communities as part of the USCG’s Annual St. Elizabeths Back-to-School Backpack and School Supplies Drive. Both headquarters are located within the Southeast DC community.
USCG Chaplain Jonathan Alexander, co-lead on behalf of USCG, said this year’s success was a team effort.
“I’m very thankful for the support, generosity and enthusiasm of the DHS and Coast Guard team working on St. Elizabeths Campus,” he said. “I think it is important to show that we do more than just work in these communities – we must also show we care about our neighbors.”
DHS Office of Partnership and Engagement Chief of Staff and DHS co-lead Karinda L. Washington said everyone can help ready students of underserved communities for a brighter future.
“It is crucial to ensure that children in Southeast DC have the tools they need to be successful academically,” she said. “Tomorrow’s DHS and Coast Guard leaders live here and we’re doing our part to get them started on a path to success.”
This year’s drive exceeded DHS’s goal, more than doubling the 100 backpacks filled with school supplies that were donated last year. The donation will benefit kindergarten through 5th grade students living in the Southeast DC Housing Authority communities.
(From left) Monica Watts, Shanice Brooks, Rhonda Harvell, Ronnie Friday, Justin Cartagena, Antonio Balza, Emmanuel Bonet, Karinda Washington, and Jonathan Alexander are ready for the Southeast District of Columbia Housing Authority back-to-school rally. Employees of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard headquarters distributed 224 backpacks filled with school supplies and 50 laptop totes to families living in the Southeast District.
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