On Saturday, Aug. 3rd, Samual Dixon Family Health Center employees and community volunteers gathered at the Val Verde Health Center to distribute backpacks and supplies to students who are preparing to return to school in the fall.

Thanks to the generosity of a $2,000 grant from Cetera Investors and former MSW Intern Jasmine Ball, we were able to provide backpacks stuffed with supplies necessary for classroom participation and success.

“It was such a pleasure partnering with Samuel Dixon Family Health Center to provide back-to-school backpacks to over 100 children. Their staff was happy to help, the children were excited for their supplies, and we will definitely be doing this event again,” said Ball.

All those in attendance also received many day-to-day household and hygiene supplies and a BBQ lunch compliments of SDFHC. Carmen Torres whose daughter was a recipient of a backpack says, “Thank you Samuel Dixon Family Health Center for providing us with free backpacks. You guys rock!”

“At Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, we understand that sometimes paying for things such as backpacks and school supplies can be a challenge for families which can be a barrier for families accessing healthcare or healthier food options. We wanted to help remove this barrier for our families and provide them with BBQ lunch for coming out to our Val Verde location,” said Philip Solomon, CEO of SDFHC.

SDFHC was established in 1980 in the community of Val Verde and named for long-time Val Verde resident and minister, the late Reverend Samuel Dixon. The mission of SDFHC is to enhance wellness by providing quality primary healthcare, dental and mental health services to unserved and underserved residents, with a special emphasis on serving the uninsured. In addition to the Val Verde Health Center, SDFHC operates two other health centers in Newhall and Canyon Country with two satellite locations on the college campus of California Institute of the Arts and College of the Canyons. SDFHC is the only non-profit health center founded and based in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Visit us at www.sdfhc.org for more information.