Held at the Walmart Supercenter in Baldwin Park, the event brought together a network of community members, partners, volunteers, local agencies, businesses, and families united by the spirit of giving.
Students from Baldwin Park Unified’s Early Childhood Education through Adult Education programs arrived early with their families, ready for a special shopping experience. Each student was paired with a community volunteer shopper, who helped select winter clothes and essentials based on the child’s preferences, including their age, grade, favorite colors, and clothing sizes.
Thanks to generous community donations, each student received an $80 gift card for their purchases, with Walmart providing a 10% tax discount on all event transactions. After shopping, students visited “Santa’s Shopping Carts,” where they chose a free toy sponsored by the California Highway Patrol and collected a snack bag from Walmart before heading back to school.
This year, the program supported 361 Baldwin Park Unified students and additional children from Serenity Homes. Families are selected based on need, with school community liaisons coordinating the application process.
“This annual event showcases the power of our community when we come together to support our students,” BPUSD Superintendent Dr. Froilan N. Mendoza said. “
The event relied on the efforts of volunteers from the Baldwin Park Unified School District, City of Baldwin Park, Starbucks, U.S. Bank, Valley County Water District, Vulcan Materials Company, Walmart, and other local organizations.