By Ericka O’Connell, Roosevelt Island Daily
A Warm Welcome Back to School
Friends, as summer winds down and September creeps closer, our community is once again stepping up to make sure Roosevelt Island kids are ready for a bright new school year. The Back-to-School Giveaway is set for Friday, August 29 at 5:00 PM at Good Shepherd Plaza, right in the heart of Main Street.
Organizers ask everyone to arrive no earlier than 4:30 PM so things can run smoothly and fairly for all.
What to Expect
- Free Backpacks & Supplies: Students will receive the tools they need to start strong.
- Community Care: A tradition rooted in kindness and giving back.
- Location: The plaza just outside the historic Chapel of the Good Shepherd.
Why It Matters
Events like this are more than giveaways. They remind us of the strength of our little island community—neighbors helping neighbors and making sure every child starts the year with confidence. These small acts of support ripple outward, strengthening the bonds that make Roosevelt Island feel like home.
Event Snapshot
- What: Back-to-School Giveaway – Free backpacks & school supplies
- When: Friday, August 29 at 5:00 PM (arrive no earlier than 4:30 PM)
- Where: Good Shepherd Plaza, Main Street
- Why: To support Roosevelt Island families and students as they prepare for the new school year
Come join in, spread the word, or lend a hand if you can. Together, we’ll send our students off with the encouragement and tools they deserve.
See you at the plaza, friends and here’s to the fresh start that only a new school year can bring!
What the Promenade Remembers
The light on the East River in the early morning is different from the light anywhere else on the Island. It comes in low and sideways, catching the water in long, uneven flashes. On certain days it makes the promenade feel less like a walkway and more like a corridor someone once meant to finish but never quite did. When I was younger I found the suggestion to stop and look at it faintly ridiculous.
