As families prepare for the start of the 2026-27 school year, local officials, educators and police organizations are once again partnering to help ease the financial burden of back-to-school shopping by providing free backpacks and school supplies to students in Glen Cove.
Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, the Glen Cove Police Benevolent Association and the Glen Cove City School District will host a backpack giveaway at 11 a.m. on Aug. 18 outside Landing Elementary School. The Nassau PBA is supplying the backpacks and school supplies, with assistance from the Glen Cove PBA.
According to Capitol One Shopping, American families spent $39.4 billion on K-12 back-to-school shopping in 2025. The average cost of school supplies for one child was $557, while school supply prices increased 7.3 percent year over year.
DeRiggi-Whitton said the giveaway has become an annual effort to help families offset those costs.
“We always give out at least anywhere between 400 and 600 bags,” she said. “And the bags have school supplies inside.”
She said the backpacks are well received by families because preparing children for school can quickly become expensive.
“It’s not cheap when you’re getting your kids ready to go back to school between sneakers and clothes and everything else and other supplies that you have to buy,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “So if this can help a little bit, then that’s great.”
In addition to clothing and school supplies, she noted that many parents are also asked to purchase classroom items.
“A lot of schools, they get the list of everything from tissues and paper towels to, you know, other needs for the classroom,” she said. “So it’s an expensive time of year. And if this helps a little bit, then it’s worth their time.”
The event is intended to do more than distribute school supplies. DeRiggi-Whitton said it also creates opportunities for positive interactions between children and police officers.
“It’s a really good interaction between the police and the kids,” she said. “The kids love them and they’re excited to see them. And they thank them. And they talk about going back to school.”
She added that officers take time to encourage students as they prepare to return to the classroom.
“They’re so caring about their messaging to the kids,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It’s a really nice day.”
Alexa Doeschner, superintendent of Glen Cove City Schools, said the partnership benefits students and families throughout the community.
“Community partnerships like this make a real difference for our families,” Doeschner said. “We appreciate the generous support of Nassau County Legislator Leader DeRiggi-Whitton and the Nassau PBA in helping our students prepare for a successful 2026-27 school year.”
Nassau PBA President Thomas Shevlin said the organization’s annual participation reflects its commitment to supporting local families.
“Police officers are members of the communities they serve, and our commitment extends well beyond law enforcement,” Shevlin said. “We recognize that many families face financial challenges, and something as simple as providing a backpack filled with school supplies can make a meaningful difference.”
DeRiggi-Whitton said Landing Elementary was selected because it is accessible for many neighborhood families.
“We have it at the Landing school because some people can walk there, which is also another good benefit,” she said. “A lot of families are under a lot of stress for different reasons. If this helps a little bit, it’s more than worth it.”
