SARATOGA SPRINGS — Youth2 – Youth Helping Youth (www.youthsquared.org), is an organization that encourages youth and adults to collaboratively brainstorm and execute ideas to help their respective communities. Youth2 allows youth to take part in direct social action for their community by hosting events like walks, food-drives, pop-ups etc. Youth2 donates grant money to fund both existing and unique projects, helping local, national and global communities.
On Saturday, August 6, Youth2 will be hosting a pop-up, “Start-UP for School” to collect school supplies for those in need. The items requested are essential to kick start a child’s school year and allow them the full potential to succeed academically. According to the Office of the New York State Comptroller, the total out-of-pocket cost for parents in New York State to purchase back-to-school supplies in 2010 was estimated to be $192 million. Furthermore, when families have multiple children with multiple lists of school supplies, costs can quickly escalate, and many families struggle to meet the demands of their school lists. Now, over a decade later, costs are exorbitantly higher for all things, not just for supplies – but that’s where Youth2 is making a difference. Youth2 is on a mission to ensure that children in NY can start school without the worry of having inadequate supplies, and that their parents will not be burdened with spending money they may not have.
The pop-up will take place on Saturday, August 6 at 112 Spring Street in Saratoga Springs, from 12 - 2 p.m. It will be a COVID-safe drop-off for those concerned and will take place rain or shine. The supplies needed are listed below. New supplies are preferred but supplies that are in excellent condition will be accepted as well.
Pencil boxes, plastic dividers, backpacks, spiral notebooks- college and wide ruled, composition notebooks, wide ruled & college ruled paper, pencil pouches, crayons, highlighters, Kleenex, dry erase markers, plastic folders, kids’ scissors, markers, pencils, pens, glue sticks, binders: 1,2, or 3” and gift cards to Staples, Target, Walmart etc. to give children the freedom to purchase school supplies catering to their needs.
