Miracles for Kids Helps Critically-Ill Children Start the School Year Strong

Back-to-School Basket of Miracles provided 450 critically-ill children and their siblings with the supplies they need to begin the school year.

Miracles for Kids, the nonprofit dedicated to supporting families with critically-ill children, successfully hosted its annual Back to School Basket of Miracles. Volunteers assembled and delivered over 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, along with hand-decorated boxes of household essentials and fresh produce, to families in need across Southern California and Northern California. Thanks to the generosity of donors, sponsors, and volunteers, the Boost Program’s “Back-to-School Basket of Miracles” provided support to 450 families, helping critically-ill children and their siblings begin the year with the supplies they need, and a sense of readiness, normalcy, and hope.

“This event is at the heart of our mission,” said Autumn Strier, Co-Founder & CEO of Miracles for Kids. “By rallying our community, we help families ease the burden of caring for a critically-ill child and give kids the tools and confidence to start the school year strong.”

This activity was made possible through generous volunteers from a wide range of companies, service organizations, and school groups.

Over the course of the activity, volunteers packed 1,032 backpacks with 544 1" binders, 3,264 pocket folders, 1,826 spiral notebooks, 1,032 pencil cases, 417 crayon packs, 544 colored pencil packs, 2,370 pens, 4,224 pencils, and 961 highlighters. Families also received more than 2,000 household essentials and over 1,500 pounds of fresh vegetables, ensuring their homes were stocked with both school supplies and everyday necessities.

To make this effort possible, top sponsors stepped up in powerful ways. Ingardia Bros. Produce Inc. provided more than 1,500 pounds of fresh vegetables as the Fresh Food Sponsor, Vessel Bags supplied every child with a brand-new backpack, and U Brands ensured each was stocked with essential school supplies. Additional support came from generous partners including Irvine Company, Baby2Baby, Target, Womble Bond & Dickinson, Assa Abloy, and Invesco, whose contributions helped provide stability, comfort, and hope for hundreds of families that Miracles for Kids serves. 

Thanks to Ingardia Bros. Produce Inc. that provided more than 1,500 pounds of fresh vegetables for families in need.

Community volunteers brought the effort to life, with groups from PIMCO, Invesco, Old Navy, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants, the High School Youth Action Team, the Chinese American Lions Club of Orange County, and multiple chapters of the National Charity League and National League of Young Men all assembling, decorating, and hand-delivering backpacks and boxes.

The day culminated with hundreds of volunteers personally delivering backpacks and boxes directly to families’ homes, creating moments of joy, surprise, and relief. Delivery was made possible thanks to the dedication of volunteers across both Los Angeles and Orange County. In Los Angeles, Miracles for Kids Board Member Rasheed Muhammad rallied friends and colleagues to assemble and deliver backpacks to 31 families, with special thanks to the Atwater family for graciously hosting the effort at their distribution site, Curl Days. In Orange County, volunteers ensured 85 families received their baskets, fostering meaningful connections with the families they serve.

Thanks to the generosity of donors and the dedication of volunteers, the program helps children begin the school year prepared, confident, and full of hope. Miracles for Kids invites the community to support its mission through donations, volunteering, or delivery assistance. To learn more or get involved, visit https://miraclesforkids.org/. 

Volunteers assembled and delivered over 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies.

ABOUT MIRACLES FOR KIDS:

Miracles for Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps families with critically-ill children battle bankruptcy, homelessness, hunger and depression so they can fight for their children’s lives. Founded in 2004 by Co-Founder & CEO Autumn Strier, the organization provides long-term stability through financial aid, basic needs, housing, and mental health support. In 2024, 84.2 cents of every dollar raised directly funded programs that serve families in crisis. Based in Orange County, California, Miracles for Kids supports families in treatment at 10 of the top children's hospitals in California, with services reaching as far north as Sonoma and east as Dallas. To learn more or get involved, visit MiraclesForKids.org or follow @MiraclesForKids on Instagram.