Hundreds of Students Receive Essential Supplies for Academic Success
United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s Back-To-School Drive Ensures Students Start the Year Ready to Learn.
United Way of Westchester and Putnam completed its annual Back-To-School Drive, ensuring hundreds of students and educators across Westchester and Putnam counties had the essential tools they needed to succeed this school year. The vital initiative leveled the playing field for students who might otherwise have started the year without basic school supplies.
The drive generated tremendous community support, with donations pouring in from individual families, local businesses, and community organizations. Priority items collected included backpacks, notebooks, pencils, folders, glue sticks, and highlighters. Community members embraced multiple ways to contribute, with many utilizing United Way’s convenient Amazon wishlist to purchase supplies that were shipped directly to the organization. In total, United Way received close to 2,000 school supplies and backpacks–an estimated $9,500 investment in Westchester and Putnam students and educators.
Of course, United Way could not have amplified this effort without the help from partners. New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin visited United Way’s offices personally to donate backpacks filled with school supplies. New York State Senator Pete Harckham hosted a back-to-school drive in his district to incredible success. Additionally, New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer partnered with the Hispanic Federation to contribute over 250 backpacks plus supplies to the effort. Gerber Life, PURE Insurance, Matco Norca, White Plains Councilwoman Jenn Puja and IBM also made generous donations of backpacks, lunch bags, and school supplies, helping the organization reach even more children.
The impact of the back-to-school drive became evident during distribution events throughout Westchester and Putnam counties. United Way provided backpacks and school supplies directly to students in Port Chester, Ossining, Peekskill and Tarrytown, as well as distributed donations to nonprofit partners. Thoughtful donations from Toys for Tots added extra joy by providing activities alongside the educational materials.
This year’s Back-To-School Drive reinforced United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s commitment to removing barriers to educational success. As families begin to settle into the new school routine, hundreds of students carry with them not just backpacks filled with supplies, but the knowledge that their community believes in their potential and is invested in their success.
