The NYCHA Journal

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Education Top Story Youth 

Todt Hill Community Center Hosts Back-to-School Supply Giveaway 

Vincent Echavaria

Todt Hill Houses in Staten Island rang in the coming new school year on August 26 with a celebration featuring giveaways of school supplies for young students.  

The Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Staten Island held the back-to-school event outdoors at its Cornerstone center at the Todt Hill development. The center provides year-round afterschool activities for youth ages 5 to 21 and various programs for adults and seniors. Programming is funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development.  

Nearly 200 local youth and community members attended the celebration, where free school supplies, including backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and erasers, were handed out to the students, said Rebecca Catalan, the JCC’s Todt Hill Cornerstone Program Director. A variety of vendors, sponsors, and representatives of the NYPD and FDNY were among those who supported the event to ensure that community youth are prepared for the new school year.  

In addition to the supply giveaways, the event included carnival games, a DJ, and a video game truck. The JCC of Staten Island also offered early enrollment registration for NYCHA residents for its free afterschool programming.

Representatives from the NYPD were among those who joined Todt Hill community members and the JCC of Staten Island for the back-to-school celebration.