Students look forward every year, to Senator Kevin Parker’s exciting Harvest Fest celebration in Brooklyn, and Saturday, Aug. 24, was the 12th such event, that attracted hundreds of Kids who queued up for backpacks, filled with school supplies to start the new school season.
During his meet and greet, and photo opportunity with families at the hours-long event, the politicians made sure students and families, were informed about the resources available to them from sponsors who littered the grounds, of Paerdegat Park, on East 40th Street.
Representing the 21st Senate District, that encompasses parts of East Flatbush, Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington, Park Slope, and Windsor Terrace in Brooklyn, Sen. Parker stressed the importance of education and preparing students for the back-to-school season.
“Harvest Fest, is a celebration of the upcoming fall season, but more importantly it is to get our young people prepared with school supplies,” said Sen. Parker who partnered with businesses to help meet the needs of students who left the festival with pens, pencils and note pads, to start the new school term.
“We really want kids to have a positive reflection and feeling about the start that would obviously make them do well. We want the beginning of the new school year to be an auspicious one, so this is our way of making sure students have a good time as school begins,” said Sen. Parker, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, and first vice chair of the Association of Black, Puerto Rican & Asian Legislators.
He noted that some families with more than one child find it hard to supply these items, as such “we want to give them that opportunity to be prepared, said the politician who made the day fun and inspiring.
“I am happy to see that the event is going well, I want to thank our sponsors who partnered with us,” said Sen. Parker, who sponsors 18 community programs during the year including a Prom Dress giveaway, Annual Job Fair, and forums such as “Brooklyn Against Gun Violence, and “Teen Bullying & Suicide.”
In addition to the 1000 free backpacks that were handed out, students were entertained with music, food, storytelling, and games, that made their day special.
Sears, CAMBA, Wells Fargo Advisors, Beat the Betes, Cayuga Centers, Resilient Young Minds Inc., Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy, NY Connects, children’s author, Kamla Millwood, the Department of Education, the Scouts, Emblem Health, the Brooklyn Public Library, and many others, partnered with Sen. Parker for yet another successful Harvest Fest celebration.
