Queens Gazette

Peralta Hosts 9th Annual Backpack Giveaway





Queens youngsters will face a tough reality on September 5th, when school bells will ring in the first day of the new school year.

State Sen. Jose Peralta, aware of the added financial burden faced by parents with school-age children, sponsored his annual school supply giveaway on August 4th. The Queens lawmaker partnered with more than 20 businesses and organizations in his East Elmhurst/Corona district, including the Queens Center Mall, to sponsor the event that supplied backpacks, notebooks, calculators, rulers, pens, pencils and other supplies to 3,000 area youngsters.

The annual event at St. Paul the Apostle Church on 98th Place and 57th Avenue in Corona also featured free face painting, games and a “bouncy house” for youngsters.

“Education is fundamental for a child’s future, and providing the appropriate learning tools is vital to ensure schoolchildren are confident to face the new academic year,” Peralta said. “Unfortunately, many hardworking families struggle to make ends meet and cannot afford to buy the basic school supplies for their children. With initiatives like this, we try to provide local students with the school necessities they need and deserve.”

Over the past nine years, Peralta’s annual giveaway program has distributed more than 20,000 backpacks, filled with school supplies, to local children.



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