ArrowHeart redirects school clothing donation to local nonprofits

Fontana Unified School District’s Family and Community Engagement office moved seven pallets of new clothing into the hands of ArrowHeart Foundation, which is distributing complete outfits to community partners across Southern California. The effort expands the foundation’s 2026 clothing aid and deepens its network with schools and social-service groups.

Why it matters: - The donation turns a one-time school surplus into clothing support for students, families, seniors and unhoused people in multiple Southern California communities. - ArrowHeart Foundation has already distributed nearly 2,000 outfits in 2026, more than doubling its 2025 total of 800 outfits. - The distribution strengthens a growing local network of school, nonprofit and community partners.

What happened: - Fontana Unified School District’s Office of Family and Community Engagement had seven pallets of brand-new clothing to donate. - Walden Family Services connected the district with ArrowHeart Foundation, Arrowhead Credit Union’s 501(c)(3) foundation. - ArrowHeart sorted the clothing into complete outfits for children and adults. - Each outfit included bottoms, two shirts, socks, undergarments and, for colder regions, a jacket.

The details: - Harbor City College’s resource center has already received clothing for students in need. - Hearts & Lives in Crestline has received jackets and winter wear for its colder mountain climate. - Community’s Child in Torrance will soon distribute clothing to families and seniors living in poverty. - Additional distributions are planned. - Carlos Lopez, district community aide with FACE, said the partnership with Arrowhead Credit Union goes beyond banking and supports families, students and unhoused residents. - Stefanie Villalobos, Arrowhead Credit Union vice president of philanthropy and community impact and ArrowHeart Foundation executive director, said the partnership with Walden Family Services and FACE helped the foundation give more and build new relationships.

Between the lines: - Walden Family Services has worked with ArrowHeart Foundation for the past three years. - Walden’s confidence in ArrowHeart’s ability to organize and distribute clothing led to the introduction with FACE. - ArrowHeart was established by Arrowhead Credit Union in 2013 to give back to communities the credit union serves. - The foundation partners with other 501(c)(3) organizations and also gives directly through volunteerism, food and clothing donations, life-essential bags for the unhoused and academic scholarships. - ArrowHeart hosts more than 100 events annually and fills donation requests from community partners. - The scale of the clothing distribution shows how local nonprofits can quickly move donated goods into hands-on aid when trusted intermediaries are in place.

What's next: - ArrowHeart expects additional clothing distributions through its community partner network. - The foundation said it will continue building relationships that expand local support. - ArrowHeart’s website, more information, provides background on the foundation.

The bottom line: - A school district’s clothing surplus became a regional aid effort because ArrowHeart already had the relationships and logistics to move donations fast.