PHOTO: Photo Courtesy of Wasted Time R/English Wikipedia
The office of Queens Borough President Melinda Katz is now accepting backpack and school supply donations through Sept. 18 in a drop-off box placed in the lobby of Borough Hall, Katz announced on Monday.
The donations are part of “Project: Back to School,” an annual initiative organized by the Coalition for the Homeless. All donated items received will be distributed to schoolchildren living in homeless shelters to assist them with getting ready for the school year.
“School kids living in homeless shelters must contend with unimaginable levels of stress and hardship, and are at a tremendous disadvantage when trying to keep up with their housed peers in class,” said Dave Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless. “We are so pleased to have Borough President Katz and the caring people of Queens involved in this year’s Project: Back to School. With nearly 24,000 children sleeping in homeless shelters tonight, it is so important that we do all we can to help these young kids achieve academically.”
In addition to backpacks, the Coalition said that schoolchildren need include No. 2 pencils, composition books, pocket folders, calculators, one-inch binders and colored pencils.
“About 87,000 New York City schoolkids live in homeless shelters or temporary housing, and not a single school district is spared from this epidemic,” Katz said. “Every child deserves a strong start to the school year with proper supplies just like their fellow peer. We urge Queens residents to donate generously toward this drive, and encourage all residents to take advantage of various complimentary back-to-school giveaways throughout the borough in the coming weeks.”
Borough Hall, located at 120-55 Queens Blvd., is currently the only drop-off site in Queens where “Project: Back to School” donations are collected this year. It is open Monday through Friday during business hours. Donations dropped off at Queens Borough Hall are anonymous and are not tax-deductible.
By Forum Staff
