The Oakhurst Sierra Rotary Club recently partnered with the Spring Valley School Parent Teacher Club (PTC) to provide backpacks for deserving students. Through matching fund efforts from both the Rotary Club and the school's Parent Teacher Club, the school was able to meet the needs of more than 15 students by providing new backpacks to help them carry their homework, books, supplies and snacks.

Rotary President Randy Papike said he was honored that his members could be a part of this need.

"It's a worthy cause and we're glad that PTC can put the funds to use so quickly and efficiently," Papike said.

In addition to the Rotarian backpack donation, the Oakhurst Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8743 recently donated $200 to the school for new classroom flags as well as a larger all-weather main school flag.

Commander Bud Russell and VFW members identified that the school needed new flags and were happy to donate those to brighten the classrooms while promoting the daily tradition of the pledge of allegiance. Parent Teacher Club President Todd Sheller said that "the donation exceed our expectations and we were also able to add to that and order some American history books as well as flag etiquette books for the K-3 grades. On behalf of the students, I'm so thankful that the VFW's military service never ends and all of their members recognized the importance of the classroom flags. They certainly make a difference every day."

The Dollar Tree in Oakhurst donated approximately $300 in overstock school supplies to the students at Spring Valley School for use in the K-3 elementary grades. The request came from London Properties realtor Sonja Hudson-Henderson, who has two children that attend the school.

The overstock supplies were delivered during the first week of school. Henderson said that 'the kids thought it was like Christmas and it's amazing when businesses and community leaders support our schools. Our education budgets don't seem to change for the positive but we can always get excited about those that see a need and immediately help out. We're so grateful that Dollar Tree wanted to help out."

The Rotary Club meets at noon every Wednesday at the Best Western Gateway Restaurant and extends an invitation to all.

The VFW meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Positive Living Center in Oakhurst on the second Friday of the month and invites all veterans that served on foreign soil to attend and learn about how they can be a member of this worthy organization.