Packed With Love: Westcliff’s Backpack Drive in Action
Never underestimate what a backpack filled with love (and essential items) can mean to someone in need. That’s what more than 50 students, staff, and faculty members discovered during Westcliff University’s Backpack Drive on Tuesday, July 15, a collaborative effort with Operation Helping Hands to support unhoused individuals across Southern California.
Volunteers from Westcliff University and Western State College of Law moved with purpose, turning tables piled with supplies into assembly lines of care. Each backpack was packed with hygiene kits, warm blankets, fresh shirts, and handwritten cards carrying messages like “You’ve got this.” They weren’t just filling bags—they were sending out reminders that someone, somewhere, still believes in you.
Western State alumna Kim Valentine, founder of Operation Helping Hands, addressed the group, offering heartfelt words about compassion, perception, and the power of small actions.
“You just never know how your input — or your impact — on that one person, on that day, might actually make a really big difference for them,” Valentine said.
This Side Up: Hope Inside
This wasn’t a one-time effort for Valentine. Over the years, she has seen the difference that something as simple as a backpack can make.
“There’s a misconception that homelessness only happens to people who made bad choices,” she shared. “But many times, it’s just a circumstance. It could happen to anyone.”
On this day, that message resonated. Volunteers showed up and leaned in. From sorting supplies to folding blankets and sealing bags, every step of the process was intentional. Like a well-oiled machine, each station moved graciously and without stutter.
This wasn’t just an event about helping those in need — although that was the heart of it — it was also about fostering collaboration across the Westcliff ecosystem. Students worked alongside faculty. Staff encouraged student-athletes. Conversations sparked between departments. For a few powerful hours, the titles faded and what remained was something stronger: undeniable collaboration.
“I try to be someone who gives others opportunities to give back,” Valentine said. “Because one person, one team, can create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond what they ever imagined.”
Before the afternoon wrapped, filled backpacks were placed directly in the hands of the very people who packed them. No middleman. No drop-off delay. Just volunteers walking out with a mission to bring immediate relief to those living on the margins all across Southern California.
Each person walked away carrying more than a backpack. They carried a story, a responsibility, a reason to keep volunteering in the future.
Why Volunteering Matters — And What Comes Next
At Westcliff, volunteering is embedded into the way we define our values. Events like the Backpack Drive are more than community outreach; they’re opportunities to grow beyond the classroom and to collaborate with all aspects of the university for a greater cause.
When you volunteer, you’re stepping into someone else’s world and asking, “What can I do to help carry the weight for a while?” That shift in perspective can be just as life-changing for the giver as it is for the receiver.
And this momentum doesn’t stop here. Another great opportunity to get involved is just around the corner.
From August 4 to 8, volunteers will partner with Unlimited Possibilities for iCan Bike Camp, a weeklong event that teaches children with disabilities how to ride a two-wheel bike using specialized adaptive equipment. Through this program, kids gain more than balance and coordination — they gain confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging.
Each session pairs volunteers with young riders, offering encouragement, high-fives, and hands-on support as they take on a goal many were once told they couldn’t achieve. It’s physical. It’s emotional. It’s powerful.
Event Details
- Date: August 4 to 8, 2025
- Location: The Rinks Irvine (3150 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, CA 92606)
- First session begins at 8:30 a.m.
- RSVP Here
Whether you’re helping pack a backpack or cheering on a new rider, your impact matters. And at Westcliff, we’ll keep creating space for those moments to happen.