85 children. One community. A new beginning.
On August 10, volunteers, donors and local families came together for our first Back-to-School Community Giveback — and every child chose their own.
What we accomplished together
Dove wishes from the 2026 Casa Pacifica holiday campaign. Other figures reflect the 2026 Back-to-School campaign, July 24 – August 11, 2026.
A Community That Showed Up
On August 10, Sons & Daughters Foundation came together with volunteers, donors, and local families for our Back-to-School Community Giveback, helping children in our community begin the school year with something every child deserves: the confidence of feeling prepared.
Throughout the day, 85 children came to choose new backpacks and school supplies, many arriving without the basic items they needed to start the year. Rather than receiving a pre-packed bag, children were able to look through the supplies, choose their own backpacks, and select items that felt like theirs.
By the end of the event, the tables that had once been filled with backpacks, notebooks, pencils, water bottles, and school essentials were nearly empty—and a room full of children was heading into a new school year better equipped to learn.
But the impact extended beyond the supplies we gave away.
Our volunteers sorted donations, welcomed families, helped children find what they needed, and experienced firsthand what can happen when a community chooses to care for its own. The response has already inspired our team to begin thinking about how we can continue supporting these families throughout the year.
Neighbors showed up in ways we hadn’t asked for. Bernardo of Cortes Dogzzz donated 100 hot dogs on short notice — enough to feed every family who came by. Children who arrived for a backpack left with lunch too, and the afternoon turned into something closer to a block party than a distribution line.
This was more than a back-to-school drive. It was the beginning of a relationship.
As Sons & Daughters Foundation grows, we hope to build on that relationship through future programs that meet families where they are, preserve dignity and choice, and make it easier for people who want to help to meaningfully participate.
To every donor, volunteer, family, and community member who made our first Back-to-School Giveback possible: thank you for showing up.
85 Children. One Community. A New Beginning.
Package & Distribution Day
West Village Park, Oxnard.
Casa Pacifica Dove Wishes
In September, we fulfilled 50 Dove Wishes for local foster youth at Casa Pacifica, each one a real wish written by a young person in their care.
The Night Market
On October 30, She Rises Collective brought The Night Market to Public Realm Brewing in Oxnard, a free community evening that supported local vendors and small businesses.
A free community event with trick-or-treating, shopping with local small business owners, family activities, and costumes for those who needed them.
Our biggest takeaway: when an event is free for families and built around activities for children, parents can relax and enjoy themselves while kids play and make memories close by.
Thank you to Public Realm Brewing for donating their space, and to DJ Defcon for bringing the music.
With gratitude to our sponsors & supporters:
805 SoCal Fishing Crew · DUDE Wipes · Musubi and Friends · Printing Vibez · Sunbelt Rentals · Hustle Lene Media · Nuun Hydration · Saint Water · Patito Plays · Cars and Vibez · The FotoBox Co.
We Don’t Rise Alone. Thank you to everyone who showed up.
None of this was done alone.
Organizations that opened doors
- Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & FamiliesShared their supply request list and received supplies for 70 children in their care.
- 805 Moms Meet × Ventura MamasHosted “Mama Reset: Back-to-School Edition” on August 8 as a collection point for the drive.
Local businesses that showed up
Every gathering was fed, photographed, and made warmer by neighbors who run small businesses in this county. Bernardo of Cortes Dogzzz donated 100 hot dogs to the giveback on short notice — enough to feed every family who came by — and 805 Insider brought the community together to make it happen.
100 doves are next.
This Christmas we’re fulfilling 100 Casa Pacifica dove wishes: each red dove carries one young person’s wants and needs, and our volunteers will shop, sort, and deliver every gift. The partnership that started with 70 backpacks in August is the reason we know where to start.