CDFA SCIENTISTS “ADOPT” SACRAMENTO SCHOOL FOR HOLIDAYS AND DONATE MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES

Meadowview school one of several recipients of holiday goodwill from CDFA employees

SACRAMENTO – A team of scientists from CDFA’s Plant Pest Diagnostics Laboratory has presented a holiday gift of learning to a Sacramento elementary school: school supplies and other needs to help children. The recipient is Mark Hopkins Elementary School in the Meadowview area.  Ninety-seven percent of the students there are from families at or below poverty level, according to the school principal. 

The school works to reward students through its “Caught You Being Good” program. Teachers often pay for items out of their own pockets to provide the incentives. The CDFA scientists’ donations will provide a much-appreciated infusion of new items.
          
“Congratulations to our team at the Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab for their tremendous holiday spirit,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “There are many ways to help people, and our children are always worthy of our attention.”

Other divisions at CDFA have also established giving trees and donation programs to benefit organizations such as California Emergency Foodlink—which coordinates the California State Employees’ Food Drive—Sacramento Children’s Home; Smile Train, which arranges for cleft surgery for needy children; the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento; and the Homeward Bound golden retriever rescue program. 

“Year after year, our employees truly demonstrate the spirit of the season,” said Secretary Kawamura. “It is an honor and a privilege to serve California alongside such dedicated and generous people.”