After Theft, Hope Community Services Still Down $5K For School Supply Giveaway

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Hope Community Services has given away thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies to New Rochelle children over the years. And Executive Director Carole Troum said Saturday’s event will go on as scheduled, in spite of the theft of $10,000 worth of supplies Monday.

Troum said, when contacted by phone Friday morning, “We would never think of canceling. For the most part, we are going to be OK.” (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

She said the organization is still down about $5,000, though donations continue to come in.

“We have to go out shopping to get some more supplies,” Troum said, adding that volunteers came Thursday to drop off more items and pack additional backpacks.

“People were just amazing yesterday,” she said.

About $10,000 worth of school supplies were stolen Monday from the organization’s headquarters on Washington Avenue.

Thieves made off with about 250 backpacks filled with notebooks, pencils, pens, rulers and more.

Troum said the Back to School Supply Drive giveaway event will be held Saturday in the parking lot of New Rochelle City Hall and will be hosted by former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara.

To donate online, go here.

Photo caption: A previous year's school supply giveaway at Hope Community Services. Photo credit: Michael Woyton/Patch Staff.