Brentwood Backpack School Supply Giveaway Aug. 12

BRENTWOOD, NY — The District 1 Youth Advisory Board is celebrating International Youth Day Friday from 12 to 3 p.m. with a school supply giveaway, which includes over 400 backpacks, and a Youth Networking Celebration at La Espiguita Soccer Academy.

The purpose of the event is to equip incoming students with the tools to succeed and also host a space to allow young professionals to engage with organizations, employers and elected officials across Long Island, according to the advisory board.

The board also wants to close the education and opportunity gap for economically disadvantaged students from the Brentwood, Central Islip and North Bayshore areas.

Eighty-nine percent of Brentwood students alone are considered economically disadvantaged, according to data from the state Education Department the board said.

“As a newly formed group, we brainstormed on different ways we could celebrate youth and give back to our community at the same time,” Destiny Eusebio, vice chairwoman of the board, told Patch. “Our founder/media coordinator Ahmad Perez had the idea of an event celebrating International Youth Day. Within just weeks of planning, members of the D1 Youth Advisory Board managed to raise over $1,500 in donations which supplied us with 400 plus bookbags filled with school supplies.”

Eusebio thanked the collaborative efforts of Chairman Joshua Chan, Outreach Chair Nathaly Cordova and Vice Outreach Chair Jason Campos.

“Our event will feature almost 50 different community organizations aimed towards community improvement, LGBTQ+ resources, affordable healthcare, and so many more. It’s safe to say that the feedback so far has exceeded any of our expectations,” Eusebio added.

The soccer academy is located at 1795 Brentwood Rd.