Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Sunset Park Customer Service Center on Fifth Avenue was buzzing with excitement on Aug. 30 as parents and children lined up between 53rd and 54th streets to collect much-needed school supplies for the upcoming school year.
Gary Tai, Anthem’s community outreach manager, told Brooklyn Paper that the organization had participated in more than 80 back-to-school events in partnership with elected officials, community organizations, and government agencies, providing resources to families across the city.
“More than 90% of teachers say their students lack the necessary supplies for learning, and with inflation and rising housing costs, 60% of parents struggle to buy school supplies,” Tai said.
For the Sunset Park event, Anthem partnered with Sunset Park BID, Brooklyn Books Bodega, Girl Scouts of Greater New York, NYC DOT, Maimonides Medical Center, LEAP Dual Language School, and Red Hook Community Justice Center to distribute backpacks, school supplies and books. Assembly Member Marcela Mitaynes also attended.
Mitaynes, who represents Sunset Park, told Brooklyn Paper that events like the school supply giveaway provided a valuable opportunity to connect with constituents and inform them about resources for immigration, public assistance, and housing.
“So our office is here to make sure that we’re here and present, and we’re talking to folks, and we’re engaging,” Mitaynes said. “[We are] also just excited to be part of the back-to-school event.”
The Sunset Park BID distributed backpacks, pencils, and markers. Referring to the line that stretched around the corner of 53rd Street, Cathy Williams, deputy director of the BID, said many people came out for the event.
“School starts next week, and [school supplies] are expensive. It’s something to give back to the community,” Williams said.
Maimonides Medical Center provided string backpacks, frisbees and a safety resources booklet, which it developed in collaboration with State Sen. Iwen Chu.
Nathaly Cabrera, the Hispanic community advocate for Maimonides Medical Center, said she had always wanted a job that allowed her to help the community.
“[At] events like this, we get to meet people, and we get to be there for them later and build our relationship with the community,” Cabrera said.
Anthem also used the event to remind parents to schedule their children’s medical check-ups, including vision and hearing screenings and immunizations.
Wendy Dominguez, Anthem’s community outreach manager, said the organization promoted HPV immunizations at their events.
“We know that HPV [human papillomavirus] vaccination is really important for kids, especially starting at age nine,” Dominguez told Brooklyn Paper. “So in the information they’re receiving from Anthem, parents are also getting resources to help them make informed decisions about their children’s health.”
Marisol Ramos attended the event with her children, 10-year-old Erica and 8-year-old Diego, who are newcomers to the New York City public school system. While the children were excited about learning English and making new friends, Ramos was pleased with the event because she didn’t have to spend too much on school supplies.
“Times are very, very hard,” Ramos said.
Brenda Bernie, who brought her children Tessa, Andrew, and Tony, said she appreciated the event because it showed that Anthem and its partners were thinking about the children.
“It’s a big help to get the school supplies they need. Some are fortunate, and some are not,” Bernie said. “This is a great thing to do for some of the children in care. As a foster parent, sometimes you can’t afford to get everything they need, so the backpacks, school supplies, and other items [Anthem] is offering are a huge help.”
NYPD Chaplain Zaquan Jones attended the event with two NYPD Community Affairs officers. Jones said the event was a way to give back to kids and show the NYPD’s efforts to engage with communities.
“We’re living in a time where the community doesn’t trust the police,” Jones said. “It’s all about bringing unity to the community, and that’s my job.”