City Joins Faith Leaders to Distribute Over 5,000 Backpacks to Newly Arrived Families with Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 29, 2024

CONTACT: Shaina Coronel, Director of Communications, MOIA 646-385-0334 

NEW YORK, NY – Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom joined MOIA Commissioner Manuel Castro, OASO Director Molly Schaeffer, Pastor Gil Monrose, and faith partners, including Episcopal Diocese of NY Bishop Matthew Heyd and Interfaith Coalition of NY Executive Director Reverand Chloe Breyer to distribute backpacks to newly arrived families with children.  

Backpacks were given in advance of the school year to over 5,000 children ages 3 to 17 at all HERRCs run by NYC Health + Hospitals, including to the over a thousand children living at the Roosevelt Hotel humanitarian center. 

“New York City is proud to partner with faith-based leaders to continue to lead with care and compassion when serving newly arrived families in our care,” said Manuel Castro, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “We are grateful for the faith leaders who stepped up and made a generous donation to ensure our newest New Yorkers feel ready for school.”  

“Today, we are pleased to announce that children will receive new backpacks they can use to carry their schoolbooks, and other school supplies,” said Pastor Gilford Monrose, Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Faith & Community Partnerships. “It is significant to recognize that faith organizations serve as the heart of the communities they nurture, offering not only spiritual guidance, but also essential support, compassion, and resources that uplift and strengthen those in need, and today’s generous donation of backpacks proves the point of the faith-based communities’ devotion to the communities they serve.” 

“The City is grateful to our faith partners for their generous donations. These school supplies will ensure that newly arrived children are ready and excited for the start of the school year,” said Molly Schaeffer, Director, Office of Asylum Seeker Operations (OASO). “The wellbeing of children in our care is our top priority and this collaboration is a prime example of how partners across the city can come together to support our newest New Yorkers, as we welcome them into our school system.”  

“It's more than just having school supplies. Starting school with everything we need is about belonging. Today was about belonging,” said Bishop Matthew Heyd of the Episcopal Diocese of NY. "All of this work happens with deep collaboration. Today represents a remarkable collaboration across the sectors of our city. Every day, we're going to remake our city with people who come here." 

NYC continues to lead in the response to this national humanitarian crisis. As of August 25th, we have over 63,000 individuals in our shelter system with approximately 5,335 school age children in our H+H sites. Families with children also make up 78% of the population in our care, making them one of the biggest groups of new arrivals.