Love Lodi describes April 25 volunteer day, July 20 back-to-school backpack drive and school-adoption efforts

A representative of Love Lodi briefed the Lodi Improvement Committee on April 14 about several upcoming community volunteer activities, including Love Lodi Day on April 25, a July 20 back-to-school backpack drive and an ongoing school-adoption program.

The presenter described Love Lodi as a citywide movement that began in 2014 and has evolved from a single volunteer day into a platform for year-round projects supporting seniors, schools, the unhoused and downtown beautification. Love Lodi said it currently lists about 50 projects for the April 25 event and has 500–800 volunteers registered, with an aspirational goal near 1,000 volunteers.

For the July 20 back-to-school party at Hutchinson Street Square, Love Lodi said it typically gives 5–600 quality middle- and high-school backpacks and partners with about 30 organizations to collect elementary-grade backpacks from retailers and donors. This year the group aims to distribute roughly 2,000 backpacks at one central location to align better with an earlier school-year start.

The presenter also outlined the ADOP (Awareness of needs, Donor engagement, Opportunities to volunteer, Project-based support, Teacher appreciation) school-adoption program, which pairs nonprofits, businesses and service organizations with Title I and other schools to provide fundraising, volunteer support and supplies. Love Lodi said the city council recently awarded grant money to support the program and cited examples where the initiative helped Lawrence and Heritage elementary schools.

Committee members thanked the presenter, offered promotional help and discussed ways to connect Love Lodi’s project submissions to city staff and partner organizations. Love Lodi invited the committee and residents to submit projects at their website and to support volunteer recruitment and promotion.