Politics & Government

Annual School Supply Drive Underway

Legislators expect big numbers of Suffolk County needy children to seek free supplies, fun.

Again this year, Suffolk County legislators are partnering with the Every Child’s Dream Backpack Pirates Program to bring free school supplies to hundreds of homeless children throughout the county. 

Needy kids, ages 6-17, will receive a backpack filled with school supplies at Fire Island in the Back Pack Pirates Summer Fest in August. 

Invitations to the outing will be distributed to underprivileged children at homeless shelters, local parish outreaches, and to families at Department of Labor sites across Suffolk County, according to event organizers.

Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Residents are encouraged to make donations of school supplies needed to fill up to 500 backpacks, according to Legis. Lou D'Amaro, D-Huntington Station, a supporter of the school supply drive.

“It will be fun and educational for them and in the end they will walk away with a cool back pack filled with supplies they will need for school," said D'Amaro, in a press release. "I know that the community will come out and generously support this great program again.”

Find out what's happening in Huntingtonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to D'Amaro, needy kids will be “whisked away” via ferry to Fire Island for a day filled with activities including treasure hunts, swimming, nature walks through the “Sunken Forest,” sand castle contest, volleyball games, visit to the nature museum, a barbeque lunch, entertainment and much, much more. 

“These needy children don’t often get a chance to experience this type of adventure,” said D’Amaro, regarding the sixth-annual event.

Donations will be accepted until Aug. 3 at locations in Huntington including Legis. D’Amaro’s office at 130 West Jericho Turnpike. Donations will be accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Needed items include: Fiskars children’s scissors; glue sticks, wide Crayola washable markers; folders with pockets; baby wipes; Ziploc bags; tissues; large T-shirts for smocks; sharpened No. 2 pencils; Crayola crayons; thin Crayola markers; Crayola colored pencils; pencil boxes; wide ruled black and white notebook; 3x5 index cards; index card boxes; dry erase markers; manual pencil sharpener; rulers; socks for dry erase wipe; red folders; plastic shoe box; erasable pens; black Sharpie markers; erasers; fine point color markers,; 4 oz. Elmer’s school glue; broad tip markers; black music folder and plastic colored folders.

To volunteer to assist with this event or for additional donation information call (631) 365-6320.


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