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Volunteers in East New York Fill Backpacks for 5,000 Public School Children

150 New York Cares volunteers filled the bags for students and families in need as they look to the new school year
Stand with Students Volunteer
A New York Cares volunteer fills backpacks with school supplies. Photo: Supplied.

On Thursday, more than 5,000 backpacks were filled with school supplies and hygiene essentials for public school students across New York for the launch of the Stand with Students campaign.

More than 150 volunteers from New York Cares gathered at East New York's The Kingdom Church-Love Fellowship Tabernacle to pack the bags to support students about to start the new school year.

The goodies, which included masks, toothpaste, lip balm, socks and an emotional support toy, were donated by New York Life and will be given out to schools in need across the five boroughs.

New York Cares Executive Director Gary Bagley said many students lost ground when schools closed last spring as educators adapted to teaching virtually with limited resources.

New York Cares
New York Cares Executive Director Gary Bagley (center in blazer) launches Stand with Students campaign. Photo: Supplied.

"Now, New York City teachers, students and families will navigate a new set of challenges and renewed uncertainty as we head into the fall," he said.

"More than ever, we feel compelled to support our city's schools and foster a strong sense of unity through high-impact education programs designed to help them navigate these unprecedented times."

Yesterday's program kicked off  New York Cares' Stand with Students campaign, which highlights the organization's support for New York City students and schools. Fundraising efforts will focus on areas disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as East Brooklyn, Central Queens and the South Bronx.

New York Cares
Miss New York Andreia Gibau helps with the efforts on Thursday. Photo: Supplied.

Assistant Principal, PS 171 M in East Harlem Aharon Schultz said the program showed students and families people cared about them, were rooting for them and wanted them to succeed.

"Right now, many of our families are experiencing inequity. Some are living in shelters, others, even during COVID-19, are under threat of eviction," Shultz said. "We also have many parents who are essential workers in healthcare exposed to the coronavirus in their work."

The campaign will support virtual and in-person education volunteer programming for NYC public schools.

New York Cares manages more than 10,000 year-round projects in elementary schools, assisting students with homework, math, and reading. In response to COVID-19, New York Cares has trained 26,400 volunteers for virtual and on-the-ground programs and helped provide more than 5.9 million meals for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic.

To make a donation please visit: www.newyorkcares.org/stand-with-students/donate




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