Miami-Dade nonprofits provide back to school resources for families in need

South Florida organizations came together on Saturday to provide back to school support for Miami-Dade s disadvantaged students I got a pig headband I got a bookbag with school supplies in it reported fifth grader Zani Stevens The International Longshoreman s Association joined forces with the Philip Randolf Institute to give out hundreds of backpacks to local children in Overtown We do our best to secure donations give them out and give back to our society noted the International Longshoreman s Association local event chair Lovette Mcgill Parents attending the event held at The Urban notified News they re grateful for the helping hand and that it makes a huge difference It means a lot because a lot of kids don t have those materials and a lot of things you have to pay for and its not free mentioned mother Trenquella A lot of parents don t have access to that stuff In the Flagami neighborhood Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami also played a part in making the transition back to school easier for students and their parents The nonprofit partnered with AT T to gift laptops to chosen lucky students who need it The goal is to set them up for success and bridge the digital divide The most of pivotal thing is these kids see themselves as part of a population that truly cares about them stated the president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami Gale Nelson Kids that attended were also given free haircuts and fitness screenings as well as a few educational advice for both the students and their parents They come in and they ll go to parent workshops we re talking to the parents about financial literacy and talking to the kids about really just dealing with mental wellness and really just being confident in their own skin revealed Nelson If you re interested in giving back the Internationals Longshoreman s Association disclosed they are inevitably accepting school supply donations which can be dropped off at their Miami office