The Albanian American Open Hand Association (AAOHA) and The Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association (PPNA) collaborated with Miriam Quiñones of Miriam Quin Photography on Sunday Aug. 29 at 2134 Barnes Ave in the Bronx, for a back-to-school giveaway.

 

Around 650 school backpacks filled with school supplies including pencils, notebooks, erasers, folders and more, were handed out to students. Families with children of all ages lined up around the block on Barnes Avenue to wait their turn for a backpack.

 

Volunteers from AAOHA, PPNA, and community partners had worked throughout the afternoon to fill the backpacks and distribute them to the kids. Alexander Nilaj, founder and president of AAOHA, who was a co-organizer of the event, said the organization puts together similar back-to-school events every year, with the exception of 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Nilaj said the various partner organizations gathered about 700 book bags in total for distribution to the community. “I want to thank, from my heart, everyone who [….] supporting us, coming together and helping those needy people in our neighborhood,” he said. “Thank you.”

 

Sponsors and supporters of the distribution included Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández (A.D. 80), Joe McManus, constituent outreach representative for Torres, Councilman Mark Gjonaj (C.D. 13), professor and community organizer, Remy Salas, and State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi (S.D. 34).

 

 

Biaggi told Norwood News she was happy to be out in the Bronx supporting the community at the event, alongside community partners and volunteers who came to help distribute supplies. “I’m very grateful to be able to partner with all of the amazing organizations in the Pelham Parkway area: the Albanian American Association, the Pelham Parkway Association and other elected officials who have really all come together, which is a really important key feature,” she said. “We all have come together to make sure that the community has what it needs, not just with school supplies, but information.”

 

The senator went on to highlight the importance of information for families as they prepared to get ready to send their kids back to school. She said parents needed to make sure their kids were safe and that there were resources available to support them beyond the event.

 

Biaggi reminded people to wear masks and to continue being cautious amid the ongoing pandemic. The event itself required all attendees to wear masks and practice social distancing. She also reminded people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

PPNA is a nonprofit community organization based in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx. Its goal is to improve the neighborhood and the quality of life of its residents.

 

Meanwhile, AAOHA is a nonprofit organization that distributes supplies to those in need all over New York City. It is dedicated to helping those affected by natural disasters, homelessness, and people with special needs by providing them with food, clothes, necessities and even just general support if they need it.

 

Quiñones, who is a freelance photographer who also works with the Norwood News, has been working with AAOHA for the last 10 years. She said many churches, mosques, shelters and pantries have received food from AAOHA over the years, and the organization is also well known for providing clothing to individuals and families in need, and for giving electric chairs, wheelchairs, and walkers to special needs individuals.

 

“Many of our special needs customers receive home delivery of food and other necessities,” said Quiñones. She said AAOHA helps people who live alone and are quite elderly. Because of this, she said, on special occasions, the group delivers extra supplies and birthday cakes, for example, to let them know they are not forgotten.

For example, she said, on Thursday, Aug. 26, Nilaj and some of his volunteers brought Ms. Gale, a local resident, a birthday cake and some cheer and good wishes to brighten up her day. Quinones concluded, “AAOHA has been doing these kinds of gestures for quite a few people, and it is amazing, and the people love it and this organization.”