The school year is about to begin, but some city children do not have the necessary school supplies.
So Astoria Federal Savings is holding its ninth annual school tools collection drive. Throughout August, people can donate notebooks, pens and other school supplies in any of the bank’s branches or they can mail the bank a check.
Astoria Federal will then match up to $10,000 in donations, said Wendy O’Neill, a spokesperson for the bank.
“The first day of school should be exciting for children and no child should have to worry about having basic school supplies,” said Astoria Federal Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing Brian Edwards.
Over the past nine years, the bank has distributed more than nine tons of school supplies, Edwards said. “It’s great to see the smiles on the faces of these children as they receive their very own backpacks filled with supplies,” Edwards added.
Astoria Federal has given school supplies to different human service agencies and to schools such as St. Joachim and Anne School in Queens Village, said O’Neill.
The bank has branches in Astoria, Flushing, Glendale, Jamaica and other neighborhoods in the borough.
