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Back-to-school season can be expensive before you even get to the first day of class, but this year, New York Restoration Project is stepping in to lighten the load. Beginning Sunday, August 10, the nonprofit will give away more than 1,200 backpacks stocked with school supplies at community gardens across all five boroughs, running through the end of the month.
The annual program—made possible by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation—packs each bag with notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue sticks and other classroom basics. Supplies are first come, first served and children must be there in person to receive them.
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Founded in 1995 by singer and actress Bette Midler, NYRP is best known for transforming underused spaces into vibrant public gardens and parks in neighborhoods that need them most. The backpack drive is part of its broader mission to make those spaces hubs for community resources, not just greenery. “We’re proud to engage our gardens for these events and help our communities get a successful start to the academic year,” said Lynn Bodnar Kelly, NYRP’s executive director.
Events will pop up throughout the city, often in partnership with local councilmembers and featuring extra activities. In Brooklyn’s Essex Street Community Garden on August 22, chef Genny Mack will host a cooking demo alongside the giveaway. A week later, on August 30, chef Brandy Cochrane will do the same at the Target Bronx Community Garden in Highbridge. In Staten Island, families can head to Westervelt Community Garden in St. George on opening day, August 10, for a festive kickoff with Councilmember Kamilah Hanks.
By holding the events in its gardens, NYRP also introduces families to green spaces that many may not realize are open to the public. The organization says more than 1.6 million New Yorkers now live within 10 blocks of an NYRP park or garden.
The giveaway runs through August 31, with stops in all five boroughs, from Jamaica, Queens to East Harlem to Eastchester in the Bronx. A full schedule of dates and locations is available at nyrp.org/backpacks.