Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVi) students are set to go on a humanitarian aid trip to Puerto Rico next week, to help residents who are still feeling the effects from Hurricane Maria.

Students from SCVi, a free, public charter school in Castaic, are set to leave on March 22 to go to Puerto Rico and are expected to spend their spring break on the trip they’ve named “Backpacks Full of Hope.”

“The initiative, part of iLEAD Schools’ international program, Cultural Bridges, aims to bring aid, resources, supplies and ultimately hope to those affected by Hurricane Maria, which hit the island on Sept. 20, 2017, and left thousands without access to electricity, water, food, shelter and other basic necessities,” SCVi school officials said.

The backpacks SCVi students plan to give to Puerto Ricans are made up of pragmatic items that can be used after a natural disaster.

The SCVi students are set to be joined by youth from other iLEAD Schools, said Cultural Bridges Director Matt Watson, and have partnered with two local Puerto Rico nonprofits to replant crops and build storm resilient sustainable homes.

“They may only be going for one week, but they are going to make a big impact,” said Watson.

All iLEAD schools encourage their students to participate in field trips like the Puerto Rico mission, said Amber Raskin, iLEAD’s cofounder and CEO.

Related: SCVi Charter School Sets Up GofundMe Page To Aid Puerto Rico

“At iLEAD Schools, we work to inspire our learners to be service minded, and ‘Backpacks Full Of Hope’ is an incredible example of our kids’ initiative to reach across borders to help those in need,” said Raskin. “We’re so thrilled to watch these motivated, philanthropic young people plan a trip like this, and we are thankful for our community’s support as they prepare to spend their spring break in Puerto Rico.”

Santa Clarita Valley residents can donate to the initiative through the group’s GoFundMe page or by purchasing items from the group’s Puerto Rico 2018 wishlist on Amazon.

For more information or to donate supplies for the trip click here

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