Leg. Horsley Collecting School Supplies for Needy Children

A group of local volunteers will give 500 needy children in our area a day they'll never forget when the Sixth Annual Back Pack Pirates Festival takes place August 15.

The event will helping giving the county's children in need a fun-filled day.

Invitations to the event will be distributed to needy children between the ages of 5 to 18 at homeless and domestic violence shelters, local parish outreaches and to families at Department of Labor sites across Suffolk County.

A release from Suffolk Legislator and Deputy presiding Officer of the County Legislature Wayne Horsley said, "Children will be 'whisked away' via ferry to Fire Island for a day filled with activities including treasure hunts, swimming, nature walks, volleyball games, a barbeque lunch and a backpack filled with school supplies."

“Many children don’t have the opportunity to experience this type of adventure,” said Horsley in the release. “It's a fun-filled day, as well as an educational experience for the kids. Plus with your assistance they'll receive a backpack filled with school supplies.”

The backpacks for the school children have already been purchased and Horsley is asking for residents' help in filling those with supplies the kids will need for the upcoming school year.

The following supplies have been requested:

• Children’s scissors
• Glue sticks
• four-ounce white glue
• Folders with pockets
• Pencils
• Crayons
• Colored pencils
• Composition notebooks
• Pencil cases
• Index cards and boxes
• Pencil sharpeners
• Erasers
• Rulers
• Erasable pens
• Highlighters
• Book covers
• Baby wipes
• Plastic bags (sandwich and gallon sizes)
• Calculators
• Dividers
• Loose-leaf paper
• Plastic smocks (children’s)
• Ring binders
• Spiral notebooks
• Tissues

The deadline for collecting the school supplies will be for Wednesday, August 8. Legislator Horsley is accepting donations at his located at 123 North Wellwood Avenue, in Lindenhurst, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.