Families gather in Canarsie to receive resources at annual back-to-school event
Hundreds gathered on Tuesday for the annual Fun Day and Back-to-School Event at Canarsie Park, where they received resources including free bookbags, food and diapers.
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Buying backpacks and other school supplies can be a burden for many families. This is why one Brooklyn community helped them start the school year off on the right foot.
Hundreds gathered on Tuesday for the annual Fun Day and Back-to-School Event at Canarsie Park, where they received resources including free bookbags, food and diapers.
"We got notebooks and coloring books," said Micheline, who is a rising fifth grader.
State Sen. Roxanne Persaud partnered with local organizations and agencies to provide what she called a "starter pack."
"We can't give them everything; but we're giving them what they need to start, and then they build on that," said Persaud, who represents New York State Senate District 19 in Brooklyn.
The line stretched throughout the park, as volunteers handed out more than 600 backpacks.
"Think about the bookbags, the notebooks, the pencils, everything adds up," said Natacha Baptiste, of Canarsie.
"[It costs] hundreds of dollars, hundreds," said Shewlanda Berkley, of East Flatbush. "I stopped counting at one point because it's so expensive."
School supplies may be expensive, but the cost of coming together and helping one another is priceless.
