THE BUS IS RIGHT AT HOME

Lake Los Angeles – Saddleback Butte State Park – Thursday morning, February 24 the air was cold and crisp, the sun was shining on clear blue skies and there was no wind at all … perfect for a photo shoot of the Save the Children Bus amongst the native Joshua trees and Creosote plants of our area.

Some back story on this incredible gift to the community is: On Tuesday, December 7, 2021 was a very special day for Save the Children at Wilsona School District (WSD). A bus which was hoped for arrived at noon to everyone’s hopes and delight.

Maria Olegine and Silvia Sandoval with Save the Children and other members of the School District were present to welcome the bus, take photos and proudly drive the bus onto the lot where WSD Transportation Services is located. Maria said, “We have so many things planned that we want to do for our families. This bus will be so important to us. Now we can start our planning.”

Mrs. Debbie Lopez, Chief Academic Officer at WSD said, “We have been waiting for this bus since March and now it is here! We tried to get a refurbished bus but there were no buses available. Save the Children arranged for us to acquire the bus we have today. Tesco arranged the wrap. It was a generous donation from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. Now we can start planning our events and creating a calendar for both of our Wilsona and Alpine Keppel families.”

At the top of the bus are logos for Save the Children, the Cohen Foundation, Keppel School District and Wilsona School District.

The Steve and Alex Cohen launched their Foundation in 2001. Over the past two decades, they have given $625 million in gifts to organizations that improve children’s healthcare and education, serve the underserved, support the arts, and protect the environment. It is important to the Cohens that they continue to help where there is the greatest need.

Save the Children explained how they are increasing their impact in Los Angeles County. They call this the Kindergarten Readiness Bus. Save the Children works together with district leaders to utilize a Readiness Bus in support of early childhood education across their partner communities by reaching families where they are. This bus will serve as support for learning and health events in both the Wilsona and Keppel School Districts.

The bus is a 2013 Chevrolet, 4.8liter gasoline V8 with only 13,023 miles on it. WSD Fleet Mechanic Glenn LaRocco said, “This will be thoroughly inspected by us. It is not a school bus, but I want it to be on the school bus regimen for periodic planned maintenance.”

Mrs. Alma Rodriguez, Lead Associate supporting Keppel and Wilsona School Districts for Save the Children said, “The mobile unit, provided to us thanks to the generous support of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, will be used to promote early literacy events, to encourage parents to motivate and engage their younger children in learning and to prepare them for kindergarten. The mobile unit will also be part of our mobile food distribution program where we support families that struggle with transportation and food security. We are able to provide them with fresh fruit and vegetable boxes utilizing the mobile unit.”

By Shirley Harriman