With a girl who goes to Kindergarten and a teenager who goes to Eighth Grade in schools in Upper Manhattan, Colombian Antonio Galindez has very little to finish gathering the back-to-school lists for his two children. A few days before the start of the school calendar, the immigrant made “tailor-made” purchases out of his pocket, unaware of some aid programs and fairs that continue to distribute backpacks and other school supplies for free.
“We had already acquired some things little by little. Since the youngest is just starting kindergarten, they ask for very few supplies. But I had no idea that some stalls even gave away backpacks and stuff. It’s good to know, because in these cases you’re never quite ready,” commented Antonio.
The Galindez family found out very recently that since the beginning of August several non-profit organizations have been organizing deliveries of backpacks with some supplies included, to ensure that no child in New York City is prevented from returning to the classroom for this reason.
All these initiatives that, like every year, arise in the five counties, became more important this year, when the generalized inflation in food prices, although it has stagnated in the last two months, it continues to punish the poorest families.
In this sense, the National Federation of Retailers calculated in early August that the increase in the “return to classes” that includes uniforms and basic supplies, could be bordering on a 40% more, if you buy compared to last year.
On average, some calculations by this federation agree that an average family would have to invest no less than $845.
You have to walk, there are offers…
For example, the Dominican Noris Delgado, from 38 years old, resident of El Bronx assures that for weeks it has been keeping track of the community organizations that gave donations.
“Fortunately, I was able to obtain at least half of what was necessary in these programs. The rest, especially clothes and shoes, you have to look for and walk because there are always offers. Especially in the previous weeks”, commented the islander just in a corner of Washington Heights where a well-known chain offered discounts of up to 70% in school uniforms.
DOE: There are no impediments
Spokespersons for the New York City Department of Education (DOE) told El Diario that the lack of any school supplies is not an impediment for children to and adolescents are received “through the front door” at the reopening of school buildings on September 8”.
“Families that could be struggling to acquire basic supplies should only be in contact with your school community. There are always alternatives. Our campuses guarantee essential teaching material”, reinforced the source.
State Back-to-School Funds
Past 12 August Governor Kathy Hochul announced the release of $40, 4 million federal pandemic funds to help with the cost of returning to classes and nutritional assistance.
The Emergency Assistance Fund for the pandemic was born from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, with the aim of helping families affected by COVID-19.
The funding is providing New York families enrolled in public assistance programs with a one-time payment of $214 for each child from 3 to 17 years and $150 for each child under 3 years old.
The distribution of these funds is being supervised by the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) and benefits 218,300 children.
In total, this agency has been distributing approximately $39,3 million, which will provide benefits to approximately 130, minors between the The 3 and the 08 years.
In addition, they will distribute $5.1 million to approximately 12,300 children under 3 years old.
But for thousands of parents like Guatemalan Lorenzo Agüedo, a resident of the Bronx, because he is undocumented, none of these aid programs reaches his two school-age children.
“Finally, what you aspire to is to always have a job to raise your children. In public schools there is a lot of help, with food and everything. My children of Y 15 they are ready now. Those of us who don’t have papers have to work twice as hard. But it’s worth it!”, he exclaimed.
Donation plans:
- Dozens of organizations in New York until this Monday They continued to receive donations to ensure that children with limited resources have all their school supplies.
- Such is the case of The Child Center of NY in Queens which continues to promote donations of $35 to maximize your aspiring “Backpack for School 2022” program benefit thousand families this year.
- DonateNYC offers a list of organizations that can be contacted both to offer donations and to inquire about donation distribution programs. mochi free schools in the Big Apple at the link: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/donate/site/NewsEvents/news/details/1181