Academic success starts with being prepared. Yet each year hundreds of students throughout Greater MetroWest New Jersey begin the school year without basic supplies like backpacks, pencils, and paper.
That is why last Saturday, August 31, my wife, Dr. Cynthia Atkins, and I led a community backpack distribution – with the support of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest. Held on 1st Street, in the heart of Roselle, the event equipped students with new school supplies, helping them begin the school year fully prepared.
Earlier in the week, more than 80 Federation volunteers – from toddlers to those in their 90s – gathered in Whippany to pack backpacks full of pencils, erasers, notebooks, folders, crayons, and other school essentials, along with handwritten notes, to be distributed across the MetroWest community. More than 160 of those were given to students in Roselle.
Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed in school without the stress of lacking necessary supplies. This event was about giving back and ensuring that our children feel prepared and confident as they walk into their classrooms. As Cynthia shared, “Education is a foundation for success. By providing these resources, we hope to inspire a sense of pride and excitement in our young students as they begin their academic journey.”
More than school supplies, this was about bringing community together and showing our children that their success is our top priority.
Throughout the process, we have been blessed with the support of so many local businesses, community members, and sponsors, who dedicated time and funds to ensuring this event’s success. Not only were we able to distribute much-needed school supplies, but we also hosted a variety of fun activities for children, such as face painting, games, and refreshments, making it a festive outing for the entire family. Every volunteer worked tirelessly, so that every family was assisted, and every child left with a backpack and a smile. To them we offer our most heartfelt gratitude.
The event received generous support and funding, and all of us here in Roselle extend special recognition to the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, NJ. Their partnership exemplifies the strength of community collaboration.
With the school year just beginning, the event’s impact is felt throughout our Roselle families. Looking forward, we are eager to continue the distribution next year and launch similar community collaborations with the continued support of partners like the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, NJ.