American Career College occupational therapy assistant students and associates attended the Child Abuse Prevention Center Summer Celebration this August to participate in a carnival with food, games and crafts.
Families from all over Orange County also had the opportunity to pick up a backpack and school supplies for their children at the Santa Ana Zoo for the upcoming school year, including lunch boxes, pens, books, binders and more.
The ACC Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) chapter organized a supply drive for the event on campus and was able to collect two large boxes full of school supplies and 10 backpacks between all three campuses. Overall, 600 backpacks were distributed to children in need at the summer celebration.
ACC SOTA also hosted an activity booth at the event where children could learn to make paper bag puppets. OTA student Beatrice Katembo was one of the volunteers during the event.
"I got to help pass out name tags and give a warm welcome to the families that attended the event," she said. "Despite the hot sun, the kids were excited about the event. I could see them peering through the fence at the entrance to see all the activities waiting for them inside."
Katembo said seeing the joy in each child's face as they picked up their new backpacks and school supplies was a pleasure. Katembo was also excited to have the opportunity to use the skills she has learned during her time at ACC at the SOTA booth.
"This event helped me apply what I have been learning at school for the past five terms," she said. "It was so amazing to see my fellow students engage with the children while thinking of ways to make the activity fit for each child. I am so glad that I got the opportunity to participate in today's event."
The Child Abuse Prevention Center is the country’s leading not-for-profit organization focused exclusively on the prevention of child abuse. If you are interested in volunteering with the CAPC please visit, www.brightfutures4kids.org