The Town of Smithtown presented Christine Fitzgerald of the Smithtown Children’s Foundation with over 35 pre-filled backpacks along with additional school supplies and empty backpacks for disadvantaged local children. From Wednesday, August 21st through Tuesday, September 3rd residents and businesses dropped off extra school supplies at Town Hall, the Smithtown Parks Department and the Smithtown Highway Department buildings. Donations from staff and residents included packs of pencils, pens, crayons, rulers, spiral notebooks, erasers, folders, and glue sticks.
“I’m never surprised at the generosity of our residents… the people in this Town go out of their way to give back to those less fortunate. But I was really touched to see the details that went into filling each backpack. Every age group was well covered, from Kindergarten through High School student. I am truly grateful for every Town employee & resident who took time out of their busy schedules to help our younger generations start the school year right.” - Supervisor Ed Wehrheim
The donations were later delivered to the Smithtown Children’s Foundation, which then works with school social workers in Smithtown & Kings Park School Districts to distribute the supplies and backpacks to kids in need. The school districts will work to provide over 60 children in their districts with the donated school supplies. The Foundation works to ensure less fortunate children, transient families and those dealing with loss or terminal illness can start the school year with everything they need.
All eight Smithtown elected officials donated the funds to provide 24 pre-assembled backpacks. Nine pre-assembled backpacks were donated by the Smithtown Youth Bureau. A handful of residents dropped off backpacks, filled with basic supplies. Two boxes loaded with notebooks, arts & craft supplies, calculators, pens/pencils, notebooks and folders were delivered to Town Hall by the team at Daniel Gale Sotheby's Realty. The remaining boxes of supplies were donated by the staff at Town Hall, the Parks Department, and the Highway Department.