Strap Up For The Mayor's Backpack To School Drive

YONKERS, NY — Back to school should signal a return to routines and normalcy in extraordinary times, but for families struggling to afford the tools for a proper education, back to school can be a time for extra stress.

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano hopes to alleviate some of that stress for families of Yonkers school children. He announced the launch of the city’s annual “Backpack to School” school supply donation drive on Monday. The 10th annual donation drive provides backpacks and school supplies to Yonkers Public School students most in need.

“Back to school supplies can be a financial burden for families, especially for families who have more than one child in school, especially after this stressful year,” Spano said kicking off this year's drive. “It is important that we remain committed to the success of our students. By working together, we will continue to seek resources and develop support for the students of Yonkers.”

According to the National Retail Federation, the national average amount spent on back to school supplies is $29.5 billion. Parents spend hundreds of dollars on back to school items, including school supplies, clothing, shoes, and electronics, totaling to more than $600 per child. The backpacks and supplies will be distributed to a Pre-K through 8th grade school as selected by Yonkers Public Schools.

“Opening of schools this year is a pivotal time for all of our students and families after a year and half in hybrid or remote learning,” Superintendent of Schools Edwin Quezada said. “It can be especially difficult for our youngest learners who may never have been inside their school. Our school district’s restoration of full in-person instruction successfully began this summer. On Friday, September 3, all students, except pre-kindergarten, and staff return to 5 days of in-person instruction. This is a time of renewal and hope. The mayor’s annual backpack drive augments this and offers our students enormous joy when they receive their backpack filled with school supplies — it’s heartwarming.”

Suggested supply packages for donation include new backpacks filled with the following school supplies:

• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Washable markers
• Glue sticks or Elmer’s glue
• Rulers
• Pink erasers
• #2 pencils
• Pencil Sharpeners
• Loose-leaf paper
• Composition Books
• Pencil pouches
• Pocket folders
• Hand sanitizer
• Tissue Packets
• Masks/Face coverings

Beginning Monday, backpacks and school supply donations may be made at the following Backpack to School drop-off locations:

• Yonkers Riverfront Library - 1 Larkin Center
• Grinton I. Will Library - 1500 Central Park Avenue
• Crestwood Library - 16 Thompson Street
• All four police precincts, including Precinct 1 at 730 at East Grassy Sprain Rd, Precinct 2 at 441 Central Park Ave., Precinct 3 at 435 Riverdale Ave and Precinct 4 at 53 Shonnard Place

Donations will be accepted until August 20.