It's summer vacation, but some kids aren't sleeping in. Instead, they were lining up outside Allan Elementary School Monday morning to get ready to go back to school.
Manos de Cristo serves 2,000 kids with its Back-To-School program. Volunteers give out two sets of new clothes, a backpack, a book and school supplies.
"I am a mother of seven children, and I only work when the kids are in school, so coming here is a big help to me,” parent Ines Reyna said.
The scene was a bit chaotic for the program’s 17th year because there were some changes this year. Allan Elementary School is a new location, the program is earlier in the season and it’s five days instead of 10.
"This takes us about a year in preparation time,” the organization's Julie Ballesteros said. “As we finish this event we'll start preparing for next year."
Manos de Cristo still needs book donations for elementary school kids.
The program runs every day until Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Allan Elementary School.