Morning Star assists Williams students

More than 100 first-graders at Williams Elementary School got off to a great start to the new school year with a little help from The Morning Star Packing Company last week.

Each student was given a new backpack filled to the brim with everything they will need as the 2010—11 school year gets underway.

The Morning Star Company is just one of several companies that have partnered with Golden State Foods Foundation, Irvine, in the give-a-way.

The mission of the foundation is to help children in need, school officials said Wednesday. The partnership also includes United Stationers, Chicago, and Taylor Farms, Salinas.

The combined effort has resulted in supplying over 12,000 backpacks to over 120 elementary schools nationally. GSF started the foundation as a way of giving back to the communities where their plants are located.

"All of us from Morning Star who were present at the event received much more than we gave," said Morning Star representative Becky Wahlberg in a statement. "To see the delight in the children's faces and to hear the sincerity of their 'thank you' touched our hearts deeply. We are honored to have had the privilege to participate in this worthwhile cause and look forward to participating again in the future."

While noting the generosity of Morning Star, WES Principal Cyndee Engrahm expressed her appreciation for community partnerships such as these, especially in this tough economic time.