This year on Saturday, August 19, 2023, the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club volunteered with Buddy's Backpacks to help distribute over 900 backpacks to kids gearing up for the new school year.  The Santee Lakeside Rotarians joined with others helped pass out the backpacks. The event was at Rio Seco elementary school.

The program is named after Buddy Rubaya, a founder of this program, who passed away in 2020. All the supplies and backpacks are donated by community members and organizations. Special Thanks goes to John Hossick and the Santee Mobilehome Owners Action Committee Inc. (SMOAC) who help organize this great event.