In-need students given more than backpacks

Starting the school day doesn’t actually start when you zip up your backpack and head out the door. It begins the moment you wake up, from sleepily brushing your teeth to putting on your clothes.

And through at least October, the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa has the district’s low-income children covered for all parts of the school day.

About 150 local families Saturday stopped by the league’s office in Costa Mesa, where workers were offering free dental check ups and free pairs of pants, shirts, jackets, and undergarments. There’s also packpacks with school supplies and a $25 gift card to Payless shoe store.

The organization hopes to serve about 1,200 kids by the end of October, but will continue past that until all the in-need children are taken care of, organizer Marijane Palchikoff said.

The league serves about 150 kids every Saturday. This was the group’s second weekend helping local families, Palchikoff said.