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CARES, City of Binghamton giving away free backpacks, school supplies: Locations and times
More than 1,360 students in the City of Binghamton will have an opportunity to receive free bookbags and school supplies ahead of the 2025-26 school year, Mayor Jared Kraham announced Aug. 18.
This year's giveaway will mark the largest backpack and school supply program since the city and CARES began partnering in 2017, according to the mayor's office.
The CEO of CARES Advocates For Families Inc., Denise Yull, said the partnership with the city is key to helping families overcome the increased cost of living.
"Each year CARES leads the Backpack & School Supply Drive because too many of our families are working more than one job, living at or below the poverty line, and now face the rising cost of living, and need our collective support; by coming together for our children, we affirm that they are all our children," Yull said in a release.
"CARES is committed to doing what it takes to help them thrive and we thank Mayor Kraham for his continued partnership in making this possible.'
Since 2017, the City of Binghamton has partnered with CARES to provide students from Pre-K to 12th grade with the essentials to thrive in the classroom. This year the City of Binghamton contributed $20,000 from a Community Development Block Grant to help fund the initative.
'As another school year approaches, the City of Binghamton is again working with CARES to provide hundreds of children with the basic supplies they need to learn and thrive in the classroom," Mayor Kraham said. "The program helps relieve some of the financial burden that back-to-school shopping puts on families and is another investment in our young people.'
School supplies and bookbags will be available on a first come first serve basis. Children have to be present to recieve a bookbag.
There will be five pickup locations for supplies and bookbags Thursday through Saturday. All of the locations will operate from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More: When is the first day of school in Southern Tier? Find your school
Binghamton school supply giveaway locations
Aug. 21: Saratoga Apartments Community Center
Address: 60 Saratoga Ave.
Aug. 21: Carlisle Hills Apartments Community Center
Address: 150 Moeller St.
Aug. 21: Walnut Street Park
121 Walnut St.
Aug. 22: Cheri A. Lindsey Memorial Park
Address: 1 Truesdell St.
Aug. 23: Recreation Park
Address: 103 Laurel Ave.
Over the past nine years since the initative started over 6,850 bookbags have been given away. Along with the support from the City of Binghamton other community businesses have also joined including Dinosaur Dental, Fidelis, Greater Good Grocery, Progressive Dental, Southern Tier Women's Health Services, Visions Federal Credit Union and Weis Markets.
Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at kcgrant@
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton's 2025 backpack, school supply giveaway Aug. 21-23
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