Willow Glen Cares

What We Do

Willow Glen (WG) Cares fills gaps in the educational experience of students with the greatest economic need at both Willow Glen Middle School and Willow Glen High School. We want these students to feel that they are part of our WG community. Our support of these students is meant to be timely, targeted, and tangible, helping them attend school with dignity.

Who Are WG Cares Students?

Nearly 40% of our WGMS and WGHS students are struggling financially for many different reasons, and some are homeless. Our community’s attendance boundaries extend to include neighborhoods east of Highway 87 and southeast of Almaden Expressway. WG Cares students face numerous barriers to attending school and trying to graduate while living in difficult situations.

Counselors, faculty, and staff refer students for support from WG Cares. By discreetly supplementing students’ basic needs and helping to fill gaps in their educational experience, students may then focus on improving their attendance, grades, test scores, and self-esteem. These improvements help to reduce truancy and at-risk behaviors, and can lead to opening more doors of opportunity to them.

“WG Cares has changed my life. They’ve given me so much and I’m truly grateful for everything.  Clothes, shoes, school supplies, stuff for hygiene – it’s all helped me be more confident going to school and in my academics.”

~ WGHS graduate, Class of 2023

How Do We Help?

Many of us take for granted that we have enough food to eat, personal hygiene products available, and that we can buy Christmas and birthday presents for our children. Yet some families have to make tough decisions between essentials like food and the things that allow our students a level of dignity equal to their peers (e.g., deodorant, soap, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, etc.) 

Across both the middle and high school, we attempt to supplement students’ basic needs during their academic journey at Willow Glen Middle School and Willow Glen High School. One hundred percent of our funding comes from donations.  So, what we are able to provide depends directly on how much funding is raised in any given year. Here are just a few of the many things we aim to provide each year.

*Our ability to supply these items depends on donations from generous community members like you.*

Holiday Fundraising Drive

Willow Glen Cares’ holiday fundraiser is our biggest of the year, supporting over half of our budget.  Reaching our goal means that we may continue our work ensuring students have what they need to succeed in school and feel a sense of belonging – including a special holiday gift. 

This year our goal is $30,000 and we need every penny of it!  Demand for what we provide in our supply room – toiletries (like deodorant, shampoo, soap, etc.), clothing, school supplies, and more – is high.  And we have a lot of big expenses coming up in the spring, like yearbooks, prom tickets, senior graduation gifts, and more.

If you want your holiday donation to make an impact locally, there’s no better place to give than Willow Glen Cares.  Every dollar donated goes directly to support the students sitting next to yours in class every day at Willow Glen Middle and Willow Glen High.

Share this fundraiser with your friends and family, too!  We appreciate every gift, no matter the size.

Donate

Willow Glen Cares is run entirely by volunteers. All donations go directly to helping our students in need.

Ask your workplace about corporate matching to double or even triple the impact of your gift! We appreciate every gift, no matter the size.

YOUR DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

WG Cares is a part of the Willow Glen Education Foundation which is an official 501(c)3 organization. (Non-profit tax I.D. # 46-2106211)

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Volunteer

Contact WG Cares for ways to get involved.

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