File Photo
Katz’s recent school supply drives have been highly successful.
By Forum Staff
Queens Borough President Melinda Katz recently announced that her Office is participating in Project: Back to School Backpack and School Supply Drive, the annual donation initiative organized by the Coalition for the Homeless.
The drive, which is scheduled to culminate on Sept. 1, is organized every year to collect the following school supplies for homeless youth:
Backpacks, No. 2 pencils, hard pencil case, soft pencil case, pencil sharpener, crayons, colored pencils, washable markers, Elmer’s Glue, glue stick, composition notebook, binders, ruled paper, safety scissors, rulers, pocket folders, scientific calculators.
According to Monica Gutierrez, the borough president’s director of education, there are more than 87,000 New York City kids living in homeless shelters or temporary housing.
“These children are starting the school year with a disadvantage when trying to keep up with their peers in class while experiencing unimaginable stress and hardship with their family,” she added.
The borough president has a drop-off box placed in the lobby of Borough Hall located at 120-55 Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens (by the main entrance security desk). Donations are anonymous and are not tax-deductible. Katz noted that Borough Hall is the only location where “Project: Back to School” donations are being collected this year.
