Donate to Backpack Program and Promote Educational Equity This Fall

Family Services of Westchester is pleased to partner with The Sharing Shelf on the launch of its 12th annual Backpacks to School program to provide new backpacks and new school supplies to low-income children and teens in Westchester County. More than 5,000 children in FSW programs have benefited from this initiative over the past decade, and this year we have 700 children on our waiting list for a backpack with supplies this fall!

The initiative promotes educational equity for local students by providing free school supplies to students in need. The backpacks and supplies are critical to the academic success and allows children to return to school prepared, confident, and ready to learn. Even before the pandemic, Westchester County was a community with a mix of great wealth yet home to nearly 60,000 low-income children. In some of our communities, 8 in 10 public school students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Meanwhile, the average family spends $122 on school supplies, a sum out of reach for struggling families and those living below the poverty level.

By contributing $25, $50 or more you can help us ensure a more equitable experience for all students. Your generous contribution towards The Sharing Shelf’s $45,000 goal will provide the tools students need to be active learners keeping them on their educational journey.

To find out more about how to help or to donate, please contact The Sharing Shelf’s Executive Director, Deborah Blatt dblatt@sharingshelf.org or (914) 305-5950. You may also visit https://www.sharingshelf.org/backpacks-to-school.