School Supplies for NYC Students

Last week, a friend shared that she had donated some school supplies to a family in need in her community and received a special thank you video from the kids.  It made me think back to how exciting it was to get my supply list in the mail every summer and go to Staples to pick out fresh binders, notebooks, pens, etc.  Unfortunately, many families don't have the resources to load up on the supplies their kids need to get through the school year.

I recently connected with a social worker at Henry Street Settlement, a social services agency in the Lower East Side, who said that they are in serious need of school supplies for their Back-to-School event on August 24 (soon!).  The population served is low-income families, many of whom reside in homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and inpatient drug rehabilitation facilities.  The social worker said this about the event:

"This is our fourth annual Back-To-School Event in collaboration with Henry Street Settlement’s School-Based Mental Health Program. Typically we have had a corporate sponsor for the event but have had no such luck this year. Last year we had 300 families attend the event and were able to supply each child with a backpack, school supplies and a healthy bag lunch. It’s usually a very nice time for our families and a great way to kick off the school year. We are in need of backpacks, composition notebooks, rulers, scissors, markers, pencils, pens and pencil cases for the event."

I want to do what I can to make this event special for the families and help local children start the school year on the right foot.  I'll take the money I raise here to purchase supplies based on Henry Street's wishlist, head to the center next week to help pack the backpacks the day before the event, and then volunteer at the event itself.  I will also share an update following the August 24 event.

Anything you can contribute will make a difference.  Thank you for your support!

Ilana