Syosset’s Astoria Bank on Jackson Avenue is collecting school supplies through August 31 as part of its 15th Annual Kids Tools for School Drive. The program provides more than one ton of school supplies annually to thousands of local students whose families struggle to afford such necessary items.
“We believe that every child deserves to be on a level playing field when they start school this year,” said Brian Edwards, executive vice president and managing director of retail banking. “Together, with generous support from our customers and others in the community, we are able to reach out to help as many children as possible and really make a difference. It’s all about giving kids a better chance to succeed and feel good about themselves.”
The community is invited to bring donations of new school supplies, or cash to purchase supplies, to any Astoria Bank branch. Astoria will match up to $10,000 in cash donations to purchase additional supplies, and will distribute the supplies to more than 60 local schools, shelters and human service organizations, which rely on the drive each year. For a growing number of families facing financial hardships and other challenges, school supplies are an expense that often goes unmet, leaving children to face challenges of their own.
