Las Vegas-based charitable nonprofit Street Heat Ministries will host its second annual backpack drive for underprivileged students in Sedona. The drive, aimed at preschool through middle school students, will take place on Saturday, July 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Club Wyndham Sedona (1500 Kestrel Circle).
“The first event was a huge success,” said George Vaughn, founder and president of Street Heat Ministries, about a previous drive that distributed 120 backpacks filled with school supplies. “We're not going anywhere. We plan to continue this event and make it an annual community event, and best of all … it's all staying in Sedona.”
Residents interested in donating school supplies to Sedona students can drop off items at the Club Wyndham Sedona from Wednesday, July 10 until Friday, July 12 from 2 p.m. Additional drop-off locations may be announced at a later date. Items that are in particular demand for this fundraiser include backpacks, binders and hand-washing wipes.
Volunteers are needed to help set up and organize supplies from 10am-3pm on Friday, July 12. Drinks and snacks will be provided for attendees.
Additional volunteers are also needed on the day of the event. The only major change to this year's fundraiser is that the backpacks will be filled with supplies appropriate for grade level, following feedback from the Sedona-Oak Creek School District and Sedona Charter School.
StreeHeat is in business for 14 years. The company is headquartered in Nevada and operates a small distribution center in Sedona focused on back-to-school programs. In Illinois, the company manages another small distribution center providing food bags to the homeless. The company's largest distribution center is in Las Vegas and focuses on providing food to families in need. On average, the company distributes food boxes to 250-300 families each month and also runs a back-to-school campaign in Las Vegas.
“The average working-class person or low-income person is becoming more and more impoverished, and that's something we've seen in Sedona.”
Vaughn spoke about a trend he has seen since the back-to-school movement began in Las Vegas three years ago.
Street Heat continues to look into expanding with a permanent office space in Sedona,
Vaughn said the project has yet to raise enough funding in Arizona to secure a two- or three-year lease.
“[Our] The Board of Directors has established certain guidelines for us to maintain. [an] “We have to make enough money in Sedona to justify having an office there,” Vaughn said. “We operate Las Vegas and Sedona separately. [has] “Sedona has a separate budget and we can't take money from Las Vegas to support Sedona, so we want to make sure Sedona remains self-sustaining and financially stable. Everything we do in Sedona stays in Sedona.”
StreeHeat has again applied to the City of Sedona’s Small Grants Program.
“Nothing has been approved yet, but I'm confident the city will support this program again,” Vaughn said. “We've gotten a lot of positive feedback from the city and they feel this program is much needed.”
“Children must be with their parents or guardians to receive school supplies,” the Street Heat brochure states. “Parents or guardians must be Sedona residents. All non-resident children attending Sedona schools will receive a backpack and school supplies and must be with their parents or guardians. One backpack per child. Teacher participation, input and suggestions are welcome.”
To apply to volunteer, contact George Vaughn at (702) 271-5155.
