The Peekskill Youth Bureau marked a milestone on August 21st with its 10th annual back-to-school supply giveaway, providing 1,200 backpacks filled with supplies to students from pre-k through 12th grade. Families lined up early, with the crowd stretching around the block, emphasizing the demand and popularity of the community-wide initiative.

“This community helped raise me… to be able to give back in this way is invaluable,” said Tuesday Paige McDonald, Executive Director and founder of the event.

McDonald first launched the giveaway in 2015 through Mount Olivet Baptist Church, calling it a “labor of love.” When she became executive director in 2019, she brought the program with her, helping it grow into one of the Youth Bureau’s signature events.

This year, more than 40 sponsors contributed,  including local organizations, businesses, and elected officials. State Senator Pete Harckham, for example, partnered with Madison Square Garden to donate 300 packpacks. Over 30 volunteers helped manage distribution, from teachers and parents to students at Peekskill High School. Community leaders like Legislator Colin Smith and school administrators were also on hand to show support.

One of the student volunteers was Lenita Esteves, a rising Senior at Peekskill High School and student council president, who hopes to become a teacher one day. “I’m glad the community is able to come together to provide a resource like this to the students in Peekskill,” she said.

The event was organized into stations to keep the lines moving, with backpacks filled with essentials such as notebooks, pencils, pens, and folders. For many families, the supplies helped relieve the financial strain of preparing children for a new school year, the Peekskill Herald was told.

Valeria Otavalo, an incoming 11th grader, was among the hundreds of students who left with a backpack. Encouraged by her father to attend, she said she was grateful for the opportunity. “It’s amazing to know students have what they need to start the year right,” Otavalo said.

Ten years after its launch, the giveaway continues to draw long lines and new supporters each summer, highlighting both the ongoing need and the community’s commitment to preparing children for the classroom. For McDonald, that growth reflects both the generosity of Peekskill and the resilience of its families. “Every year we see the line get longer,” she said, “It’s a reminder of why we do this, and why we’ll keep doing it.”