St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Orinda donated 400 backpacks to children served by a crisis center, up from 300 backpacks last year. The project provides students with practical school supplies while also offering a visible sign of encouragement and care at a difficult moment in their lives. According to Mike Gee, “St. Stephen's is an Orinda congregation with a long-running outreach tradition, and its Backpack Project has been a highlight of parish service for years. The church's outreach work also builds on its ongoing support for vulnerable children and families in the greater Lamorinda/East Bay community.”