Refugee Backpacks Still Needed

With an influx of refugees arriving between July and October, Welcome Backpacks will be in constant need for the coming months. Please consider partnering with a friend or working with your club, children's sports team, or neighbors to put together a backpack or two to help a refugee when they first arrive in San Jose.

Once you've completed your backpack, pease send a note to refugee@newlifesanjose.org so we can arrange for pick up.

Following are the items needed in each backpack (don't forget to include a personal note of welcome!):

• Standard size toiletries: soap, shampoo, wide-toothed comb & brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, tissues
• Pen, pencil, notebook
• Local San Jose street maps
• Small flashlight with batteries
• A roll of quarters (for use in laundromat, or pay phone)
• Small address book and planner (calendar)
• Wallet
• Small alarm clock with batteries
• Warm socks
• Stationery and stamps, or post office aerograms
• A phone card
• Public transportation (VTA) day pass tokens

If you don’t have time to collect bags, and you or your group would still like to help out, you could donate the cost for the items and we will purchase and assemble the packs for you. The estimated cost for the items in a single back pack is about $100.

Questions about backpacks? Email us at refugee@newlifesanjose.org. Thank you!