Morning Star Packing Company helped local first graders begin the new school year prepared by distributing approximately 450 backpacks filled with school supplies to four Los Banos elementary schools on Aug. 12.
Students at Miano Elementary, Mercey Springs Elementary, Los Banos Elementary and Henry Miller Elementary received the backpacks as part of a program Morning Star has participated in for 18 years.
The company ordered 450 backpacks for this year’s giveaway. The backpacks included tissues, lined paper, a notebook, markers, glue sticks, a pencil pouch, erasers, pencils, safety scissors, crayons and a ruler.
Hans Younce of Morning Star said the program is made possible through Golden State Foods, one of the company’s longtime customers. Morning Star purchases the backpacks through the Golden State Foods Foundation. With two of Morning Star’s three processing facilities located in Los Banos, Younce said giving back to local families is important to the company.
“Two out of three of our processing facilities are located here in Los Banos and it is important that we support the community that is home to us,” Younce said. “We also have a lot of colleagues who have children that attend these schools as well.”
The annual distribution also gives Morning Star employees an opportunity to see the students’ reactions as they choose their new backpacks.
“It’s always such a rewarding experience to see the kids so excited to get to pick which color of backpack they want, and the excitement when they realize the backpack is full of goodies,” Younce said.
Morning Star’s support for local youth extends beyond the backpack program. The company is involved with school marquees, youth and high school sports, Ag Days, career days and the Los Banos High School Morning Star Invitational wrestling tournament. It has also supported the LBHS FFA barn and the arena at the fair.
The company also has a high school recruitment program that hires students after graduation for a one-year mentorship, with the possibility of beginning a full-time career with Morning Star.
“The youth is our future, our possible future colleagues here and showing them that we support them and their future will always be a priority of Morning Star,” Younce said.
Morning Star plans to continue the backpack giveaway in the years ahead, carrying on a tradition that connects the company with local students, families and schools.
