2026 Back To School Giveaway

Sep 12, 2026

Our Morrisania community came together in a massive way on Saturday, September 12, 2026, to ensure our neighborhood youth step into the new school year equipped for success. Thanks to an incredible outpouring of love, donations, and neighborhood unity, hundreds of local kids benefited from this year’s Back-to-School Backpack and Supply Giveaway!

The day kicked off early with our regular food pantry hours from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM. Our team served 295 families with much-needed food supplies, and close to 100 neighbors picked up our renowned soup and sandwich grab-and-go bags.

The momentum continued at 11:00 AM with a moving prayer service for the school year, dedicating a special moment of blessing for our students, teachers, and school staff. Following the service, Elev8 Health hosted an incredibly vital workshop titled “Dealing With Trauma.” The session focused on essential mental health awareness for families navigating modern challenges, and it was exceptionally well-attended with 25 participants gaining valuable insights before the main giveaway even began.

Behind the scenes, the entire afternoon ran smoothly and safely for every family who walked through our doors. This was all made possible by the seamless coordination of Manna of Life’s dedicated staff and core volunteer group, who worked hand-in-hand with the wonderful outreach members from Newsong Church to manage the crowds, distribute supplies, and welcome our neighbors with open arms.

Community Partnerships in Action

An initiative of this scale takes a village. Our community partners and sponsors absolutely showed up for Bronx students. We want to extend an enormous thank you to the groups who stepped up to fill our tables with supplies and fuel this event:
  • World Vision USA: Thank you for providing vital supplies for our Morrisania neighbors.
  • NYPD 42nd Precinct: Our local officers rallied together to collect and donate over 100 backpacks, giving a massive boost to our inventory. A special thank you to Officer Jefferson for volunteering your time on-site with us!
  • NLPOA Bronx County Chapter: The National Latino Officers Association beautifully coordinated a donation of 48 high-quality backpacks.
  • Elev8 Health: Thank you for anchoring our morning with your impactful “Dealing With Trauma” workshop.
  • Glory Girls for Jesus: A special shout-out and heartfelt thank you to this amazing group for your generous supply donation and wonderful community support!
  • Kid City: A huge thank you to Kid City for stepping up as a key partner to help us maximize our impact!
  • Bev’s Charity Crafting Neighborhood: Thank you for providing beautifully crafted, vital resources for our families.
  • Merida Berrios of Meri B Hair Artist: Thank you for donating your incredible hair styling talents to our neighborhood youth!

Fresh Cuts, Warm Food, and Happy Smiles

The day was about so much more than just ticking items off a school supply list, it was a true neighborhood celebration!
Our wonderful volunteer, Lydia, kept everyone energized by preparing fresh hot dogs and delicious snacks for the entire community. Meanwhile, the talented Merida Berrios spent the afternoon donating her styling skills to give fresh haircuts to our youngest neighbors. Looking around the 1101 Boston Road courtyard, we truly weren’t sure who was happier about the fresh new styles: the excited kids or their relieved parents!
“Seeing the community line up not just for physical supplies, but for the mental health workshop and the prayer service, shows how deeply we all care about wrapping our kids in total support. We are so grateful to every hand that helped,” shared one of our staff members.
A local parent added, “Between the brand-new backpack and the fresh haircut, my son feels completely ready for his first day. Thank you!”

Thank You, Morrisania! Let’s Keep the Momentum Going!

Whether you purchased an item from our online wish lists, submitted a financial gift to fuel our wholesale backpack purchases, or gave your time as a volunteer: you made this possible. Because of you, hundreds of Bronx students walked away knowing that their entire community is cheering them on.
While the school year is now underway, Manna of Life Ministries serves our neighborhood year-round. As we head into the autumn and holiday seasons, our mission to support local families continues.

How you can continue to help:

  • Give a financial gift: Help fund our upcoming autumn food distributions and family outreach programs by visiting the Manna of Life Donation Page.
  • Volunteer with us: We are always looking for passionate individuals to join our core volunteer family and partner churches for weekend events.
Did you snap any great photos at the event? Tag us on Facebook or Instagram so we can share your perspective of this beautiful day! Find us on Facebook and Instagram at @mannaoflife — thank you!