Local businesses partnered with the Butterfly Effect Project on Thursday to provide free school supplies and lunch to local kids during the “Backpacks & Barbeque” event in Jamesport.
More than 100 children who registered with the Butterfly Effect Project got to choose from a buffet of school supplies ahead of the new school year. After picking out backpacks, notebooks, crayons and binders, they down on hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and ice pops.
“I’m very excited to give back to the community,” said Gianna Miller, a Butterfly Effect junior volunteer who helped organize the event. “Back to school is very important,” she added, and the organization wants to make sure every student “has all the tools that they need to be successful.”
“We’re very grateful for how much of everything everyone brought,” Miller added. “Overall, we just cannot fathom the amount of support we’re getting. It’s incredible, really.”
The supplies and funding to purchase supplies were generously collected and donated by local community members, through local businesses and charitable organization including Allstate, Island Federal Credit Union and Supplies for Success, officials said.
Founded by Tia Fulford, The Butterfly Effect Project was founded in 2014 to break down racial, cultural, economic and social barriers and empower young girls of diverse backgrounds. The nonprofit works closely with the Riverhead Central School District and runs afterschool programs.
Kelly Pennington, the manager of Island Federal Credit Union’s Riverhead branch, said she held a donation drive at the branch to help collect supplies for the giveaway event. IFCU has been working with Butterfly Effect to teach local kids about financial literacy, she said.
“It’s such a heartwarming event. They really go above and beyond for the community. I’m happy to be part of it,” said Pennington, who was on barbeque duty.
Beth Hanlon, an Allstate agent in Riverhead, said she was able to secure a $5,000 grant from the The Allstate Foundation, with which the Butterfly Effect used to purchase many of the school supplies. Additionally, other agents across Long Island and her customers donated supplies for the event, she said.
“Tia and I have worked together for years, but I’ve never secured a group grant for her,” Hanlon said. “This worked out perfectly. We’re proud to be here.”
“We’re already making plans for next year,” she added.
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