Five Towns S.H.O.P. receives 100 backpacks for families

The Sustenance Hope Opportunities Place, known as the S.H.O.P., at the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC received 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to help Five Towns families facing financial hardship as students headed back to school. The backpacks were donated through a partnership with State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and Green Acres Mall, providing children served by the Cedarhurst social services hub with supplies for the new academic year.

The S.H.O.P., at 591 Malvin Mall in Cedarhurst, provides essential goods, nutritional support and other assistance to individuals and families experiencing hardship throughout the community. Stacey Feldman, executive director of the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, said in a news release that the donation will ease stress for families struggling with the cost of school supplies.

According to a National Retail Federation study cited in the release, families with children in elementary through high school planned to spend an average of $836 on back-to-school items this year, with total spending expected to reach a record $43.3 billion. Feldman thanked Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick for the donation, and the senator said she was glad to help ensure students have the resources they need for the school year.