The Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR) in partnership with the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR), contributed more than $2,500 in donated school supplies to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless (LICH) Backpack Pirates program. The supplies were collected through LIBOR’s “Back to School Supplies Drive” held during REALTOR® Care Week from August 17 – August 22, 2020.
LICH’s Backpack Pirates program is a yearly event that offers hundreds of homeless, economically disadvantaged and vulnerable youth the opportunity to experience a fun day of games and activities at a pirate-themed summer camp. In addition to the outing, each child receives a brand-new backpack filled with essential school supplies to be used for the upcoming school year. The event, which was scheduled to take place on August 25, 2020, was canceled this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
As an annual sponsor of this special program, LIBOR remained committed to helping children secure the tools they need to succeed by adapting to these unprecedented times with a virtual-only school supplies drive. The transition to a virtual drive was a welcome addition that offered donors the ease of making purchases from an itemized list of school supplies and other essential items.
“Whether learning virtually or in the classroom, many students are at risk of starting the new school year without the adequate supplies they need for academic success. With the donations collected from our drive, LIBOR is helping to bridge the gap between what families can afford and what students need, especially during these challenging times,” said LIBOR President Matthew Arnold.
Supplies were also purchased with a $1,000 grant from the New York State Association of REALTORS®, as part of their week-long REALTOR® Care Week initiative which encourages REALTORS® to engage in community improvement projects throughout their neighborhoods.
At the completion of the drive, a small team of LIBOR REALTOR® volunteers joined LICH at its headquarters in Amityville for an afternoon of stuffing backpacks and sorting supplies donated through the drive.
“The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless is grateful to the Long Island Board of REALTORS® and its members for their generosity in hosting a school supplies drive, donating supplies, children’s clothing and other back-to-school essentials, and spending hours stuffing backpacks for Long Island children in need. LIBOR has long supported the Coalition’s efforts to help Long Island’s homeless and at-risk individuals and families. We appreciate their continued partnership in this arena,” said Greta Guarton, executive director of the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless.
The backpacks assembled by LIBOR will be distributed in the upcoming week to families in need.
