Press Release | July 30, 2026
We're Giving Away Free Back-to-School Supplies
As families across New York City prepare for the new school year, New York Restoration Project will host a series of free citywide backpack and school supply giveaways beginning Saturday, August 8.
The events will take place throughout August at select NYRP community gardens, helping connect children with the supplies they need to start the school year ready to learn. The giveaway is made possible through the generous support of Citizens Philanthropic Foundation.
By leveraging its network of community gardens as trusted neighborhood gathering spaces, NYRP is making it easier for families to access essential back-to-school materials. Each backpack will be filled with notebooks, writing utensils, crayons, glue sticks, and other classroom essentials. Supplies will be distributed while they last, and children must be present to receive a backpack. To date, giveaway events include:
- Saturday, August 8: Westervelt Community Garden (St. George, Staten Island)
- Saturday, August 15: Mildred T. Rhodebeck Garden (Hunts Point, The Bronx)
- Saturday, August 15: Glover Street Community Garden (Castle Hill, The Bronx)
- Sunday, August 16: 50 Cent Community Garden (Jamaica, Queens)
- Friday, August 21: Essex Street Community Garden (Cypress Hills, Brooklyn)
- Saturday, August 22: Riley-Levin Children’s Garden (Inwood, Manhattan)
- Saturday, August 22: McLeod’s Community Garden (Brownsville, Brooklyn)
- Saturday, August 29: Home Depot Children’s Garden and Los Amigos Community Garden (East Harlem, Manhattan)
- Sunday, August 30: Eastchester Road Community Garden (Eastchester, The Bronx)
And more to be announced! Check out nyrp.org/backpacks and follow NYRP across social media as we announce new locations.