Ahead of the first day of school, Empire State Voices hosted a school supply and food drive event at the Tarrytown Community Opportunity Center to ease the back-to-school financial spike so many Hudson Valley families are feeling.
During the event, community leaders and New Yorkers collected and passed out school supplies and food donations. Empire State Voices and partner organizations also collected items and donated over $2,000 worth of food and school supplies that will be delivered to a local school in West Haverstraw and donated to the Tarrytown Community Opportunity Center.
This event is part of the Unrig Our Economy Republican Price Tag Campaign, highlighting the Senate Joint Economic Committee’s recently released report confirming that the average New York Household is spending $5,000+ more under Donald Trump and Mike Lawler because of policies like tariffs and SNAP cuts.
During back-to-school season, these price increases hit even harder:
- Prices for school supplies like notebooks, paper, pencils and glue sticks are nearly $175, almost 8% higher than in 2025.
- Gas prices are over $4 per gallon, adding to the cost of school drop-offs.
- Food stamp benefits were cut for over 22,000 New Yorkers in June of 2026 alone, just as grocery bills climbed heading into the school year.
“Thank you to Empire State Voices, the Tarrytown Opportunity Center, and those in the community who have come out today to make sure all of our students can walk into the first day of school feeling prepared and confident,” said Karen G. Brown, Mayor of Tarrytown. “So many families in our community are already struggling with rising costs, and I am proud to see our town come together to give some extra support this back-to-school season.”
“Every school year, I have seen firsthand the difference that having the right supplies makes for students, and it’s incredible to see the community come out and support our schools, ” said Angie Terry, West Haverstraw Elementary Principal. “This supply and food drive will remove the extra financial burden that this time of year places on so many families already struggling to make ends meet, and we are so grateful to be a beneficiary.”
“As we all know, the dynamic of the world is changing: food prices are higher, more and more people are applying for SNAP benefits, and more and more people are being turned down. So for all your help and support, I thank you, because it’s time that we support one another,” said Doris, from the Tarrytown Community Opportunity Center.
“Back-to-school season is supposed to be an exciting time for students and their families, but by cutting SNAP benefits and supporting policies that raise the cost of school supplies, Republicans in Washington, including Rep. Lawler, have forced Hudson Valley parents to make difficult decisions about what they can and cannot afford,” said Dylan Wheeler, Empire State Voices Senior Organizing Director. “With this supply drive, we are calling on Congressman Lawler to take meaningful action to bring costs down and restore SNAP funding so that all the kids in Hudson Valley can go to school equipped for success.”