Moon Festival organizers, community donate thousands to support more than 1,000 unhoused East Side students

Board members on Nov. 6 called attention to ongoing Moon Festival efforts that raise funds for students identified as unhoused within the East Side Union High School District. Trustees said the district serves about 20,000 students and that more than 1,000 are identified as currently unhoused; board members urged continued community support ahead of the December distribution of funds and gift cards.

Trustees described the Moon Festival as a longstanding community event (more than three decades) that raises money for East Side students in need. At the meeting, representatives of the festival and affiliated nonprofits addressed the board. Meeting speakers said the Moon Festival had previously donated $5,000 toward the district’s holiday support for unhoused students; one organizer, Kim Binh Nguyen, presented an additional $3,000 check that evening. Event coordinator Quan Phan and other volunteers described plans to make next year’s 35th anniversary more expansive and to involve additional school programs and clubs.

Board members and attendees framed the December effort as both holiday assistance and a way to help students feel supported by the community. The board described past community fund drives that raised more than $60,000 in a prior year and encouraged community members and organizations to contribute.

What happened next: The board accepted the donation and thanked festival organizers. Staff will coordinate the use of donated funds in the district’s planned December assistance for students identified as without stable housing.

Why it matters: District leaders noted that more than 1,000 students lack stable housing—a figure larger than some high school enrollments—making community donations and targeted supports a significant local intervention to address immediate needs such as clothing, food and gift cards during the holiday season.