Rainbow School Supplies: Random Shots
For photos and stories of the 2006 Rainbow Drive, click here.

A quick look at the 2005 Rainbow Backpack drive from start to finish. Here's the assembly line in front of our small warehouse space in Mission Viejo, CA. Over 30 volunteers sorting, filling, storing backpacks for U.S. and Mexico children. Over 750 backpacks were filled this year.
Linday Thompson fills Steve Foglio's backpack as he moves down the line. Folks at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Corona del Mar, CA contributed over 300 sets of school supplies, a group headed by our board member Terre Sanitate in Santa Barbara, CA contributed over 260 completed packs, and others from around the country contributed supplies and cash, which we promptly converted to backpacks and supplies.
More work on the line with Megan and Connie doing the honors.
The COTA van runneth over...
Gene Spann another of our board members with his usual look of complete control and quiet confidence.
Distribution day in the Mexican ejido at Marcela's house, the site of one of our dining rooms. Over 150 kids showed up to receive school supplies.
First in line, almost there...
Sandy Huston of Mission Viejo, CA helps a child adjust his brand new straps.
What more can we say?
Just like Christmas.
Another satisfied customer. These children must walk 4 to 5 miles to the ejido school, so these packs are really important. There are no roads, only worn paths across the hills. When it rains, it's all impassable, and everyone stays home.
Checking out contents and arranging binders.
And here's the line at Rosenda's dining room at Colonia Lagunitas. Over 200 kids here waiting patiently for their turn.
Almost there. Waiting outside the gate to Rosenda's dining room.
The Rainbow table at Rosenda's. Getting organized for 200+ backpacks.
Backpacks. Rosenda and her helpers tagged each pack with a child's name in her neighborhood who is officially enrolled in school.
Two of those school girls.
Another one.
And another.
This little guy is ready to go.
And another. I love the little cel phone holder on the strap. I wonder what he'll put in there...
The kids have so much fun opening the packs and poring over the treasures.
Most of the packs also had a toy, candy or other treat for even more fun. But most importantly, these children now have a chance for a successful school year.
And finally, U.S. kids. Children of The Americas delivered 150 backpacks to Olive Crest, a CA non-profit org, for children in their foster care network and string of shelters for abused and at-risk kids. Here, Eileen Angier and Amanda Hughes accept the first load of packs for Olive Crest.