Ray of Hope of San Joaquin County sent out an “Urgent Need” post this week.

With temperatures expected to reach triple digits, the non-profit Children’s Crisis Services is now accepting Gatorade, water, juice, sunscreen, and any liquid hydration drinks.

“Many people worry about kids when it’s cold. But the realty is extreme heat to children is the realest danger,” said Ray of Hope via social media on Monday.

Donations can be dropped off on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Manteca office located at 113 W. Yosemite Ave.

Backpack / school supply drive

The Ray of Hope Student Success School Supply drive is currently underway.

The annual collection of back-to-school items, which runs from now through July 31, will once again benefit those in Children’s Crisis Services.

“We are collecting back backpacks and school supplies as well as teen and school aged clothing at Hope’s Closet,” said Ray of Hope Executive Director Laura Saunders.

Hope’s Closet is the Ray of Hope store that offers affordable and quality goods in a retail setting. The shop located at 1030 W. Yosemite Ave. is open to the public with proceeds benefitting the local non-profit agency.

“Our biggest need is for seventh graders and up,” Saunders said.

Ray of Hope is encouraging business folks, church, family, friends and other such groups to help with the Student Success School Supply drive.

This is one of three ways to help out.

The other is a new spin to the Christmas Guardian Angel Program for the summer.

Rather than wish-list scrolls, those looking to participate can pick up a clothing ticket from Ray of Hope with a child’s clothing needs for school. The clothing ticket can be obtained via email at GivingHope@rayofhopechildrensservices.org.

As for the third way?

“Have your teens and / or school-aged kids challenge their friends to clean out their gently used clothing and donate them to Hope’s Closet, where kids referred to Ray of Hope can get school clothing at no charge,” Saunders said.

Needed for the Student Success School Supply drive: Binders (both 2 inches, 4 inches), folders / dividers, highlight pens / Sharpies, mechanical pencils / pens, calculators / scientific calculators, index cards, crayons / markers / colored pencils, and college ruled paper / notebooks.

Hygiene products on the list are hand sanitizers, deodorant, body spray, dry shampoo, Kleenex, socks, new clothing, new shoes, and oral hygiene items.

Students in the program can pick up their new backpack filled with school supplies based on their grade level prior to that first day of school.

These items can also be dropped off at the Ray of Hope office, 113 W. Yosemite Ave.

For more information, call 209.883.6411 or 209.597.0574.