Surrey non-profit gives out 1,400 backpacks full of school supplies to families in need<\/p>\n
Published 3:07 pm Saturday, August 15, 2026<\/p>\n
Thousands of people attended the annual City Dream Centre back-to-school event in Surrey on Saturday (Aug 15), where staff and volunteers distributed 1,400 backpacks full of school supplies to students who attend inner-city schools.<\/p>\n
Families began lining up as early as 6 a.m. to secure a backpack, with distribution starting at 10 a.m.<\/p>\n
The annual event took place at Lena Shaw Elementary from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with well over 2,000 people in attendance, said Loretta Hibbs, City Dream Centre founder and CEO.<\/p>\n
At last year\u2019s event, they gave away all the backpacks in the first 90 minutes; so this year they decided to do things a bit differently. \u201cWe decided we\u2019re just going to give to elementary kids, to help to make those backpacks go a little farther,\u201d Hibbs said. <\/p>\n
This marks the 9th year the charity has held the event, and Hibbs noted that the need in the community has continued to grow each year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis event that we do is to help alleviate some of the stress for the families. If we can give some clothes for the kids and some backpacks for families. It\u2019s going to make a big difference, and it doesn\u2019t meet all their needs going back to school, but it shows them that we see you, we care, and we\u2019re here,\u201d Hibbs said. <\/p>\n
Besides picking up their backpack with school supplies and some new clothes, the kids enjoyed plenty of fun and games, from a bouncy castle to corn-hole toss to face painting, along with a hot dog lunch.<\/p>\n
The event was totally free, and no pre-registration was required. Many families received flyers about the event from their children\u2019s schools at the end of the school year, while others heard about it through word of mouth. <\/p>\n
Several politicians, both current and running in the fall municipal election, also attended and handed out backpacks for a short time. <\/p>\n
The non-profit collects school supply donations throughout the year in preparation for the event. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe had somebody just this week donate 144 backpacks, so now we\u2019re able to give 1,400,\u201d Hibbs said. <\/p>\n
Founded in 2016, City Dream Centre focuses on \u201cthe underprivileged and marginalized\u201d in Surrey and beyond.<\/p>\n
Throughout the school year, the non-profit feeds 280 families in need in Surrey.<\/p>\n
The Surrey School District vets them to ensure they are eligible for the program, which provides food to families who would not otherwise have any on weekends. <\/p>\n
The charity has various other programs, including a mobile dental care bus, educational courses for parents and life-skills and education programs inside federal and provincial prisons. \u201cLast year, we gave away $100,000 worth of free dentistry into the community. So there\u2019s a lot of facets to the Dream Centre,\u201d Hibbs said. <\/p>\n
The charity also has a thrift store called For the Love of Thrifting (106-19211 Fraser Highway) that is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m., with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly back into their programs. <\/p>\n