Backpack giveaway provides students educational supplies
Pens, binders, notebooks, folders, highlighters. The school supply list can seem endless, but thanks to a partnership between several organizations, local students are getting a helping hand as they prepare to head back to school this week. In what’s become an end-of-summer tradition, Legislator Siela Bynoe, in conjunction with the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association (PBA), Nassau County Police Department Foundation and Town of North Hempstead, provided 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to area students.
The well-attended event drew students and their family members, who came not only to receive a backpack, but enjoy free food, face painting, a DJ, green screen for photos and inflatable basketball booth courtesy of the Long Island Nets. The Nassau County Police Department also landed a helicopter at the park, much to the delight of attendees.
In addition to being a fun event, Bynoe said the event served an important purpose.
“This is an afternoon of bridging two common goals—investing into the future and dreams of our families and building strong relationships with our police department,” said Bynoe. “This means the world to all of the sponsors, to be able to provide families that little extra help they need when they’re getting their kids back to school.”
James McDermott, Nassau County PBA president, echoed those remarks, saying that for the past four years, the event has helped to connect police officers and the community.
“We want to help out and give to those who don’t have and create a relationship,” said McDermott. “We want the parents and children to see that [police officers] are people too. Once you take the uniform off, we’re just like you are. We’re all Long Islanders.”
