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Borrego Businesses Back Local Learners

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By Nidia MezaManaging Director, BASICMay 2025

You’ve likely seen the small clear boxes at checkout counters around town. Here is what they are funding, and where to find them.

The BASIC donation box on the counter at Red Ocotillo, holding several folded bills
Red Ocotillo.
The BASIC donation box beside the register at Carmelita's, with a few dollar bills inside
Carmelita’s.
The BASIC donation box at The Pantry Market with a handwritten Thank You note taped to the front
The Pantry Market, with a note from the staff.

Borrego Springs businesses are stepping up to support local education, and you can be part of the movement. Through a simple act of generosity, shoppers now have the opportunity to invest in the future of Borrego’s students, right at the register.

Basic Assistance to Students in the Community (BASIC) has teamed up with local businesses to place donation boxes where every dollar makes a difference. From early education programs to the Learning Academy and scholarships, these contributions fuel life-changing opportunities for students of all ages.

By shopping local and dropping a donation into the BASIC box, customers help ensure young learners in Borrego Springs receive the support they need to succeed, from cradle to graduation. This initiative fosters a community-wide commitment to education, making every purchase more than just a transaction. It’s an investment in the future.

Where to find a box

Ten local businesses, and counting

  • Mirage Gas (rock star site!)
  • Kendall’s
  • The Pantry Market
  • Center Market
  • Jessica Hair Salon
  • Desert Lovers
  • XL Gas
  • Fudge Factory
  • Alicia’s Desert Spa
  • Los Jilberto’s Taco Shop
A clear acrylic BASIC donation box with a Donate for a Dream card showing two smiling students
Look for this at the register.

What the change is buying

Every dollar from the boxes goes to BASIC’s programs: free books and family literacy nights for the youngest Borregans, a month of reading and math each summer at the Learning Academy, and the scholarships that get Borrego Springs graduates into college and keep them there.

A young girl at a table coloring a picture, smiling at the camera
Early education: the Latino Family Literacy Project.
Parents and children working together at a table during a family literacy session
Parents and children learning together.

A small contribution today can spark a lifetime of learning and success.

Let’s rally behind our students and show them that Borrego Springs believes in their dreams. The next time you check out, look for the BASIC donation box at the register.

Own a business? Host a box.

Local businesses interested in joining the initiative can reach out to BASIC to become a partner in supporting education. We supply the box; you supply the counter space.

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