This holiday season, charter public schools across California are meeting real needs with compassion, creativity, and care, whether that means sharing food and essentials, bringing families together, empowering young leaders, or honoring the land itself. These moments of generosity reflect the heart of charter schools and the communities they serve.
As part of our annual #ChartersGiveBack homeage, check out these CCSA member schools that are true pillars in the communities. Click on the social posts to join us in celebrating these inspiring moments in action!
Sharing Food, Warmth, and Essentials
Vaughn Next Century Learning Center
At Vaughn Next Century, students turned compassion into action by creating handmade blankets for the San Fernando Rescue Mission. Through this effort, students shared warmth, comfort, and kindness with community members during the colder months.
In Ventura County, Ace Charter continued a beloved 14-year tradition of building holiday trees for Food Share of Ventura County. What began as a service project has grown into a lasting partnership that blends creativity, celebration, and community support year after year.
At Aspen Ridge in Fresno, partnerships make all the difference. Working alongside the local community food bank, the school opens its campus twice a week so students, families, and neighbors can pick up groceries as needed. The result is more than just providing food to those in need -- its about creating a welcoming space filled with connection.
In Los Angeles, Granada Hills Charter brought students, families, and staff together to assemble and deliver 4,500 Thanksgiving bags for local families. Rain or shine, volunteers worked side by side to ensure neighbors could celebrate the holiday with full tables and full hearts.
El Sol Science and Art Academy
At El Sol Science and Art Academy, giving back is woven into everyday school life. Through its school-based pantry program, the community has distributed nearly 10 million pounds of food, ensuring families have consistent access to nutritious meals and reinforcing the idea that schools can be trusted hubs of care and support.
iLEAD learners, families, and staff in Antelope Valley came together to create Fall Giving Baskets filled with essentials and care for Antelope Valley Health Partners. Each basket was more than supplies; it was a message of compassion and community, showing that when we come together, we can support and uplift those who need it most.
Celebrating Together and Inspiring Others
In Sacramento, Gateway Community Charters modeled what community schools look like in action. Their Annual Winter Resource Fair welcomed more than 400 families, connecting them to food, hygiene items, gifts, and essential services through local nonprofit partners. These moments reflect Gateway’s commitment to supporting students and families beyond the classroom and strengthening community ties across South Sacramento.
Aspire Capitol Heights Academy
Nearby, Aspire Capitol Heights Academy transformed Thanksgiving week into a joyful celebration of community. The school hosted a Fall Festival and provided free Thanksgiving dinners, turkeys, and groceries for families. Serving a large Black community in an underserved area of Sacramento, the event featured games, prizes, and a “Thankful Tree,” where students shared messages of gratitude and hope.
The Foundation for Hispanic Education
In San Jose, scholars from The Foundation for Hispanic Education experienced civic engagement up close. By engaging directly with local and national leaders, charter school students explored topics like housing, immigration, and social justice, gaining insight into how policy shapes communities and how their voices can drive change.
Caring for the Land
At Anawakalmekak in Los Angeles, students, families, and community members gathered to steward ancestral land at the Chief Vera Rocha Ya’anna Regenerative Learning Village. Through planting native seeds, building adobe, and weaving tule, participants honored Indigenous heritage while strengthening relationships between people and place.
In San Diego County, Urban Corps Charter School blends education, workforce training, and service. Corpsmembers restore waterways, build trails, and revitalize natural habitats while earning their diplomas and gaining job skills. Their work protects the environment and creates pathways to opportunity, showing how service can shape both communities and futures.
From sharing essentials to celebrating together, empowering young leaders, and honoring the land, charter public schools across California are demonstrating what it means to lead with heart. This season, we celebrate our member schools and invite you to share and amplify their stories of giving back.
#ChartersGiveBack
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