Princess Moss has been hearing about the great work of Idaho Education Association members for a while now.

But when the Vallivue Education Association’s annual Back to School Fair was “lifted up” to her, she had to see this standout event for herself. That’s how the vice president of the National Education Association found herself helping Canyon County families sort through piles of donated clothing to find the just-right back-to-school outfits for their students. 

“It is absolutely amazing to see how the local association is working with the school district, the community, and parents to ensure our kids have what they need for back to school”

NEA Vice President Princess Moss

“It is absolutely amazing to see how the local association is working with the school district, the community, and parents to ensure our kids have what they need for back to school,” Moss said in the middle of a noisy gymnasium at Summitvue Middle School last Saturday. “Connections mean everything, and this is one example of how a local association can work with the community to get things done for our students.”

For several years, VEA members have organized the end-of-summer event to help local students and families start the school year prepared, confident, and connected to community resources. Each year, the event has grown along with the services and resources on offer — and in the process becoming an extraordinary touchpoint between the local union and the Southwest Idaho community it serves. 

“This is what should be happening in a community — a one-stop shop where families can get everything they need to start school ready,” said former Idaho Rep. Julie Yamamoto, a strong public education and IEA ally at the Statehouse during her tenure. She was at the Fair as a volunteer with the local Lions Club, which was providing vision and hearing screenings for students.

“The Valley View Education Association doesn’t just talk about caring for kids — they show it, in word and in deed,” Yamamoto said.

Last Saturday, more than 1,400 people visited the fair and took advantage of a wide range of services and resources for families, including:

• School supplies
• Clothing (including school uniforms)
• Haircuts
• Food boxes (with donations from the Idaho Foodbank)
• Vision and hearing screenings (provided by the Lions Club)
• Sports and activity physicals (through Sports Med)

A number of other community non-profits and service providers also had booths at the event, including: 

• Nampa Family Justice Center
• Idaho Central Credit Union
• Boy Scouts of America

Girl Scouts of the USA

These offerings aim to help students start the school year prepared, confident, and connected to community resources.

“We’re finding that more and more families need this,” said VEA Co-President Amber Ford. “The first year we had no idea what to expect — we got completely overloaded and realized this was a huge need.”

For VEA, the event not only helps students and families prepare for school. It’s also a great organizing tool and point of pride for members. The genuine connections with the community and each other make the hard work worth it.

“It gives us more visibility in our district and more reasons for people to join because they see we’re doing something that directly benefits kids and our community,” Ford said.

Moss sensed that, too.

“When I walked in and saw all the members in their purple shirts, organized and ready for the day, I thought: putting this together is no easy task, and they’ve made it better every year,” she said while taking a break from her duties.

“It’s a very proud moment for me to know that this is going on in our local affiliates.”