The El Capitan High Pacific Club recently helped secure a donation of about 50 backpacks and academic starter kits for students at the high school from the Merced Medical Foundation. Members of the club met with Kassey Mosher, Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer at Mercy Medical Center Merced Foundation, and Kevin Smith, Mercy Medical Center Merced Foundation Chair Person, to celebrate the gifts.

“For us, it really meets our mission to be able to provide further and help them in their gaining of knowledge,” Mosher said. ”We love it, and we really like the ability to partner with young children, high school age, so that they see that others care about them.”

Pacific Club advisor Dara Smith suggested that her members reach out to the foundation after learning they had themselves received the donation of backpacks and academic starter kits and were handing them out at various events to help kids get ready for school. The kits contained pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, erasers, glue sticks and other items.

The Pacific Club sent a letter to the foundation asking if they could donate some of the school supplies to the high school. 

“It’s really cool to see kids on campus using it,” Kevin Smith said. “(The supplies) aren’t just going away somewhere. It’s nice to know when the kids receive these types of things, it’s appreciated by parents and teachers.” Mosher says this type of act is what philanthropy is about. “We're not just trying to raise money, we're really trying to change lives,” she said. “So our child community doesn't have something, they aren't prepared for school –  at no fault of their own – but being able to give them that little jump start to where they feel like they fit In.”

The Pacific Club has over 100 members and makes community service a priority with an emphasis on inclusivity, particularly for students with special needs. The club organizes monthly activities, including field trips, bowling events, and volunteering at the Special Olympics and the Unity basketball games. The club aims to provide leadership opportunities and social experiences for students. “These students take it upon themselves to go in at lunchtime and interact with their peers in that class,” Dara Smith said. “We try to hit a holiday, and we also try to make it educational. We don't want to go in there and just have a party.”

Pacific Club president Marleni Pacheco says it feels good to make someone else feel included and happy. “It's something that isn't just momentarily happiness, but a lasting feeling of happiness,” Pacheco said. “Being able to have the opportunity to put smiles on faces is something I like to do.”

Dara Smith says she hopes this donation is the start of future collaborations with the Merced Medical Foundation that could lead to academic opportunities for students at the hospital. “Including our club can be like the catalyst, to get started, because we're establishing our relationship with the foundation,” she said. 

Mosher says there are many ways students can get involved. “I would encourage you all, if you're interested, we can get you involved and engaged in all kinds of things,” Mosher said. “Whether it's distributing toys, inventory or giving out diapers, going to our clinics. And then if you get there and you're like, ‘Wow, I really love healthcare, or I want to be a community health worker,’ we can also start to connect with people.”

Shawn Jansen is the Program Manager Digital Media. He can be reached at sjansen@muhsd.org.