Senator Kennedy, University at Buffalo Present School Supplies to Highgate Heights Elementary

UB held university-wide school supply drive to benefit schools throughout Western New York.  

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Senator Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo, joined officials from the University at Buffalo and Councilmember Bonnie Russell’s office to present new school supplies – which were gathered during a university-wide school supply drive – to students and teachers at Highgate Heights Elementary School in Buffalo.

As part of Highgate Heights’ Back to School event last week, Senator Kennedy and UB officials helped students, teachers and their families celebrate the start of the new school year by dropping off a large volume and wide assortment of needed supplies.

“Across Buffalo and Western New York, students have returned to school to study hard and learn new skills,” said Senator Tim Kennedy. “Our classrooms are filled once again, and our teachers are working harder than ever to help our children learn difficult subjects with ease. This donation of school supplies from the University at Buffalo could not come at a better time. It will help ensure students have the supplies they need, so they can focus on their studies, not on whether or not they’ll have a pencil or paper for class. Thank you to UB’s students, faculty, staff and administration for your generosity, and good luck to the students and teachers at Highgate and all local schools in the year ahead.”

University District Councilmember Bonnie Russell, whose district includes Highgate Heights Elementary, added, “The donation of needed school supplies by the faculty, staff and students from UB is a great boost for the students and families of Highgate Heights. For many families this generosity represents one less challenge they have to face as the school year begins and allows them to focus on their studies.”    

Linwood Roberts, of UB’s Office of Community Relations, said, “This is the fifth year we have done this at the University, and the thoughtfulness and kindness of our faculty and staff never ceases to amaze. It is a great pleasure to be part of bringing needed tools for our schools’ youth. This is our largest collection to date. Thanks to the Office of Community Relations, for coordinating this annual event, and thank you to the over 30 departments participating within the University, to name a few: Office of the Provost, Office of the President, University Libraries, Minority Faculty Staff Association, and Educational Collaboration and Engagement.”

Over the course of several weeks, at sites on the North, South and Downtown campuses, UB students, faculty and staff donated school supplies to benefit schools throughout Western New York. This year, in addition to Highgate Heights Elementary, UB will be distributing supplies to Futures Academy, Aloma D. Johnson Charter School, Martin Luther King Multicultural Institute and Westminster Community Charter School.

Overall, the University collected over 22,000 items, including more than 600 markers, over 800 pens, more than 1,000 pencils, and thousands of index cards and sheets of paper. They more than tripled last year’s drive – which made it UB’s largest school supply drive ever.

Highgate Heights began a partnership, last year, with the Buffalo Promise Neighborhood to have an array of academic and social supports embedded in the school. The continuum of supports provided by partners such as Read to Succeed, Talent Development Secondary, AmeriCorps, and Closing the Gap/Say Yes to Education are focused on supporting identified needs within the school and community. More recently, Buffalo Promise Neighborhood was selected to implement a Restart Model, adding even more resources to enhance and embrace the already existing initiatives. Highgate Heights is a school on the rise, and the teachers, students and administrators deserve credit for their hard work. 

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Senator Timothy M. Kennedy represents the New York State Senate’s 63rd District, which is comprised of the towns of Cheektowaga, the city of Lackawanna and nearly all of the city of Buffalo. More information is available at http://kennedy.nysenate.gov.