Optical technician students from American Career College-Los Angeles helped about 200 students this August at the 21st annual Back to School Distribution event, sponsored by the Foothill Unity Center.
Led by ACC-Los Angeles optical technician instructor Adrianna Arias and Career Services specialist Jason Stoll, the group of nine students provided vision screenings, visual acuity tests and vision education to event attendees.
Overall, the Foothill Unity Center helped more than 1,000 low-income children prepare for a successful school year during the two-day event, which was held at the Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Children received uniforms, shoes, socks, underwear, backpacks and school supplies in addition to other services.
"Community involvement is crucial to the success of events like these," ACC-LA Student Services coordinator Ruthy Rodriguez said. "It helps children and their families become familiar with their community, its agencies and its leaders."
Founded in 1980 in a small church closet to provide food to a few hungry families, the Foothill Unity Center has grown in the past 30 years to become the major source of food, health services and crisis assistance for at least 4,000 low-income families in Southern California.
