ELLENVILLE – The Ellenville NAACP helped local students get ready for the new school year this past Saturday with its annual Back-to-School festival and Backpack giveaway. Hundreds of free backpacks filled with essential school supplies and personal care items were handed out to ease the financial strain on area families.
The community gathering featured music, refreshments, and educational resources aimed at setting every child up for a confident, successful school year.
Vice President Gammy Singer said they have been doing this for more than 10 years.
“Kids need school bags and supplies. They need other things, we have homeless kids,” said Singer.
Eleven-year-old Alistair Gilbert thought his new backpack could hold everything.
“I could put my lunchbox. I could put my books and stuff, really, everything I need.”
Singer said that because of a 30 percent poverty rate in the community, by the end of the day, every one of the 400 backpacks were gone.
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