People to People Seeks School Supplies for Rockland Kids

People to People, Rockland County’s largest food pantry, is seeking donations for its Back to School With Dignity program.

Organizers are looking for help this time of year to make sure all of Rockland’s children go to school their first day with all supplies required.

The school supply drive runs now through August 18 (to give volunteers time to distribute items to students in the area).

What’s wanted: new items such as notebooks, binders, pens, pencils, highlighters and glue sticks

Education is widely acknowledged as a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty. Through Back to School with Dignity, People to People equips at-risk children in grades K through 12 with the essential items needed to successfully start school.

Grants and financial contributions from Orange & Rockland Utilities, Flaregas Corp., Provident Bank and New York State via Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee - along with contributions from individuals, community groups and civic associations – support PtoP’s Back to School with Dignity initiative. To date, People to People has expended nearly $16,000 to purchase hundreds of quality backpacks, binders, pocket folders, calculators, composition tablets, highlighters, pens, pencils, markers, crayons and more.

School supply collection efforts by Pfizer, Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty, Blue Hill Plaza and other businesses or civic groups contribute the additional school supplies needed to provide nearly 2,500 children with backpacks filled with school supplies.

Donations may also be dropped off at People to People, 121 West Nyack Road, Nanuet, NY on Monday through Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Monetary donations for People to People are also sought.

More than 95 percent of all donations the charity receives goes directly to providing Rockland families in need with programs and services. Less than 5 percent of funds raised are spent on operations.

For more information on People to People and Back to School With Dignity, click here or go to its Facebook page (below).