Photo: Office of Jimmy Van Bramer
Sept. 22, 2010 By Christian Murray
Within the space of three weeks, residents of Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City displayed their generosity by donating thousands of school supplies to neighborhood school children in need.
The program, establish by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer on August 27, was established as means to help struggling families obtain school supplies – as their children returned to school.
“For most children, the beginning of a new school year means new clothes, new shoes and a new backpack filled with fresh supplies,” Van Bramer said at the time. “But thousands of other kids … begin the school year without these necessary items. And with the economy still slow, some parents just don’t have the money to buy the supplies their children need to start the school year,” he added.
Residents were asked to donate supplies outside of Van Bramer’s Sunnyside office, as well as at the Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City libraries.
Three weeks later, 4,400 items had been dropped off.
“The tremendous outpouring of support for this local school supply truly amazed us,” Van Bramer said, adding that the program will be implemented again next year.
The most common supplies donated were notebooks and art supplies, like crayons and colored pencils.
Distribution of the items begins next Monday. Van Bramer’s office will be releasing the specifics on how they will be distributed throughout the district on Friday.
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