School is in Session and Comcast is Giving Back

School is back in session but not every student and family has access to the supplies and resources needed for academic success. From school supply drives and community resources to laptop giveaways and food trucks, Comcast Team UP volunteers were out in full force around the Oregon/SW Washington region to help students get ready for the new school year.

In mid-August, HAPO Community Credit Union hosts a Back to School Bash in Vancouver, Washington, where several Comcasters came out to volunteer and meet families from the Clark County area. The event offered activities, resources, entertainment, and giveaways from HAPO of 500 Back to School gift packs, including special opportunities for income-constrained families. Comcasters volunteered at the event, offering free hotdogs and an ice cream truck for attendees, and sharing information about Internet Essentials and the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, including how to qualify, and where and how to sign up.

Comcast’s Samantha Ridderbusch, Director, Government & Regulatory Affairs, attended the event as a Team UP volunteer. “It was an absolute pleasure to help folks in Clark County learn about Internet Essentials and the federal Affordable Connectivity Program. Not to mention getting to see the look of excitement and genuine appreciation from the families that participated! Backpacks, school supplies, and affordable internet are essential for setting our students up for success, knowing not all families are able to provide these tools to their kids, makes events like this one so meaningful. Those kiddos are our future! Thank you, Team UP!”

The following week in Portland, Comcasters were out at Tools for Schools, an event hosted by Schoolhouse Supplies, aimed at putting together school supplies and backpacks for underserved neighborhoods across the Portland Metro Area.

Michael True, a counselor at Vestal Elementary School, talked about a family he has been working with: “This family breathed a huge sigh of relief when they heard their kids would get new supplies and backpacks. Sometimes the parents have to weigh whether to pay a utility bill or buy school supplies.  They were very grateful for the assistance.” Comcast is proud to be a part of this impact since Tools for Schools started in 2003.

To cap off the back-to-school preparedness, Comcasters headed down to the Eugene area for a weekend-long Project Hope event. The event served more than 3,000 K-12 students and their families and provided community resources and school supplies with backpacks, all in a fun-filled fair environment. To add to the excitement of the new school year, Comcast gave away four laptops at the Laurel Elementary and North Eugene High events.

We wish all students and families throughout the Oregon/SW Washington region a successful school year!

Team UP is a volunteer and employee engagement program through Comcast that aims to bring our teams together and provide opportunities for everyone to get more involved with our communities, and ultimately, build a future of unlimited possibilities.