After months of planning and collaborating with corporations, dozens of nonprofits, and service providers, School on Wheels hosted its most innovative awareness campaign to date. On Saturday, July 27th, 2024, it kicked off the new school year with not one but two world record attempts. The attempts were successful, and the team broke the Guinness Book of World Records mark for the longest line of back-packs (7,000) and the most backpacks filled with school supplies in one hour. School on Wheels’ leading partner for this event was Bazic Products (backpack and school supply distributor). All 7,000 backpacks and school supplies were then distributed to students experienc-ing homelessness. Total sponsorship exceeded $150,000.00, and other sponsors included Sage Publications, Blue Shields Promise, Neiman Group of Architects, Wilson Sonsini, Property Management Associates, Century Housing, and First Student.
The event was not just a world record attempt. It was a fun-filled back-to-school celebration for over 200 students and their families. School on Wheels collaborated with other nonprofit organizations, and students received everything from new shoes, haircuts, books, vision and medical checkups, arts and crafts, sports, entertainment and a free lunch. Partners and volunteers included LA Galaxy, LA Rams, LA Lakers, LA Works, Soles4Souls, Twoheys Burger, Cal State LA, Jbez Barbershop, Mother’s Nutritional Center, One Legacy, LA County Library, LA County Office of Education, El Monte Police Department, Blow Brass Band, LA County Department of Children and Family Services, Union Rescue Mission, South Central Family Health Center, You Run This Town Foundation, and many more schools, shelters and other service providers.
