The Bakersfield AIDS Project is helping students prepare for the new school year

The Bakersfield AIDS Project is hosting its annual back-to-school drive.

Donations can be dropped off at Martin's Meats and Deli Market on 21st Street through Tuesday, August 18.

OVER 25 YEARS.

AND WITH THE NEWSCHOOL YEAR STARTING.THEY'RE NOT STOPPING NOW.23ABC'S KALLYN HOBMANN SPOKEWITH THE NONPROFIT ABOUTTHEIR ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOLDRIVE HAPPENING THIS WEEK.

SHEJOINS US LIVE WITH MORE.

KALLYN?GOOD MORNING..

I'M AT MARTIN'SMEATS AND DELI ON 21ST STREETWHERE THE BAKERSFIELD AIDSPROJECT IS TAKINGDONATIONS TO HELP CHILDRENAFFECTED BY HIV PREPARE FOR THESCHOOL YEAR.THE NONPROFIT..

THE BAKERSFIELDAIDS PROJECT..

IS DETERMINED TOMAKE SURE CHILDREN IMPACTED BYHIV FEEL PREPAREDAND SUPPORTED AS THE NEW SCHOOLYEAR BEGINS."THEY EITHER HAVE IT OR THEY HAVEA FAMILY MEMBER WHO MAYBE HAS ITOR HASPASSED AWAY FROM THE VIRUS ANDWE'RE STILL HERE TO SUPPORT THEMANDCONTINUE THEM WITH HAVINGSERVICES FROM US."BOARD MEMBER PHILLIP CASTRO SAYSTHE NONPROFIT ISASKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS TODONATE ITEMSLIKE BACKPACKS.

NOTEBOOKS.

ANDMARKERS.IN LIGHT OF COVID-19... THEY AREALSO ACCEPTING ITEMSLIKE FACE MASKS AND HANDSANITIZER.CASTRO SAYS THE PANDEMIC DOESN'TCHANGE A STUDEN'TS NEEDFOR SUPPLIES."THIS YEAR IS JUST A TAD BITDIFFERENT.

I MEAN, WE ARE DOINGVIRTUAL EDUCATIONTHIS YEAR SO FAR BUT WE AREWANTING STILL A LOT OF THETHINGS KIDS NEED TOBE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL"AND FOR A FULL LIST OF ITEMS TOCAN DONATE.YOUCAN VISIT THE BAKERSFIELD AIDSPROJECT FACEBOOK EVENT.THE SCHOOL DRIVE WILL CONTINUETHROUGH THISTUESDAY.

AND DONATIONS CAN BEDROPPED OFF AT MARTIN'SMEATS AND DELI ON 21ST STREET."JUST LET US KNOW THAT YOU'RETHERE TO DROP OFF FOR THE SCHOOLDRIVE ANDWE, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLEENOUGH, WE'LL TAKE YOUR PHOTOWITHTHE SUPPLIES THAT YOU'REDROPPING OFF AND IF NOT, OFCOURSE, YOU CANJUST DROP IT OFF AND HOPEFULLYYOU HAVE YOUR EXTRA CREDITASSIGNMENT."THAT EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT ISA NOTE OFENCOURAGEMENT..

CASTRO SAYS THEYWOULD LOVE IT IF YOUCAN ALSO INCLUDE A NOTE WITHYOUR ITEMS FOR THE CHILDTHEY ARE GIVEN TO.

GIVING THEMAN EXTRA REASON TO SMILE ON THEFIRST DAY OF SCHOOL."THAT WAY WHEN, YOU KNOW, THELITTLE KIDS GET THIS STUFF, THEYCAN SEE THATPEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE HEREAND THEY CARE FOR THEM AND THEIRHEALTH AND THEIR WELLBEING, ANDTHEY WANT THEM TO HAVE ASUCCESSFUL SCHOOLYEAR AND A START TO THE SCHOOLYEAR."MARTIN'S MEATS AND DELI IS OPENFROM 8AM TO 6PM TOMORROW ANDTUESDAY IF YOU'D LIKE TO DONATEITEMS. OTHERWISE.CASTRO SAYS TO CONTACT THEM TOSET UP A DROP OFF TIME.

WE'LLHAVE THAT CONTACT INFORMATION ONOURWEBSITE...TURN TO 23 DOT COM.FOR NOW HERE IN DOWNTOWNBAKERSFIELD..KALLYNHOBMANN...23ABC..CONNECTING YOUNOW TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC INKERN COUNTY.