Wanted: School Supplies for 'Back Pack Pirates' Drive

Plans are underway for hundreds of needy children ages 6 to 17 in Suffolk County later this summer for a fun-filled outing that also helps them start school on the right foot.

The effort is thanks to The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. The organization is partnering with Holiday Magic, Every Child’s Dream and the Suffolk County Legislature to help needy children finish the summer with a blast.

According to Legis. Lou D’Amaro, D-Huntington Station, the children will spend a day at Dorothy P Flint 4-H Camp in Riverhead in the 9th Annual Back Pack Pirates Summer Fest in late August.  At the end of the day, each child will receive a brand new backpack filled with school supplies.  Hundreds of backpacks have been ordered and now donations of school supplies are needed to finish filling them.  

Invitations to the Back Pack Pirates event will be distributed to needy children at homeless shelters, local parish outreaches, and to families at Department of Labor sites across Suffolk County. Children will enjoy a day filled with fun camp activities including treasure hunts, swimming, nature games, a barbeque lunch, entertainment and much, much more. 

“These needy children don’t often get a chance to experience this type of adventure,” D’Amaro said.  

“It will be a fun and educational event and every participant gets to walk away with a cool backpack filled with supplies they will need for school," he added. "I am once again asking our local community to come out and generously support this great program.”

D’Amaro’s office at 130 West Jericho Turnpike in Huntington Station is accepting donations now between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The deadline for making donations is Aug. 8.  Items needed include:

• 4 oz Elmer’s Glue
• Glue Sticks
• Fiskars Children’s Scissors
• Wide & Thin Crayola Washable Markers
• Folders with pockets
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Colored Pencils
• Composition Notebooks
• Pencil cases
• Index cards and boxes
• Pencil sharpeners
• Erasers
• Rulers
• Erasable pens
• Highlighters
• Book covers
• Baby wipes
• Ziploc Bags (sandwich and gallon sizes)

For more information or to volunteer to assist with this event, call the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless at (516) 742-7770 ext. 11.