WHITE PLAINS, NY –Volunteers will be assembling and packing backpacks for Westchester County children at the Sharing Shelf of Family Services of Westchester, Inc.’s(FSW’s) warehouse from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday August27, 47 Purdy Avenue, Port Chester. This year we will be packing and distributing 1,000 backpacks, which is 20 percent more than the previous year. FSW is working closely with the Westchester County Department of Social Services to ensure that the backpacks are distributed to those students most in need. We are so grateful to everyone who has participated in this effort including corporate sponsors Swiss Re; Wells Fargo;Dechart LLP;Traub, Lieberman, Straus and Shrewsberry, LLP; IBM and MVP Health.
The fifth annual “Backpacks to School” campaign, spearheaded by Deborah Blatt, Program Director of the Sharing Shelf, will ensure that1,000 students in Westchester County are prepared to start school with essential supplies such as binders, pencils, pens, flash drives, calculators and notebooks. All backpacks and supplies have been donated or purchased with donations earmarked for this effort.
Founded in 2008, the Sharing Shelf of FSW collects new and gently used children’s clothing and other items and distributes them through social service agencies, schools, hospitals and other non-profits to families in need.
Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Port Chester, Family Services of Westchester runs more than 50 social service and mental health programs that reach 30,000 children, teens, adults and families a year. The non-profit’s programs run the gamut from adoption services to elder care, from home health care to youth residences and include chapters of such national programs as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Head Start and AmeriCorps. The agency’s 450 employees and 350 volunteers operate out of seven offices throughout the county.