Families line up at the UFT booth during Harlem week festivities to receive backpacks filled with school supplies and information on parent resources.
Alveda Alston, a paraprofessional at PS 497 in Manhattan, joined fellow UFT volunteers on Aug. 18 to hand out more than 250 backpacks filled with school supplies to families gathered along West 135th Street for Harlem Week. Alston, who started volunteering at Harlem Week four years ago, said she has always enjoyed the sights, sounds and smells of the event — from music and food to beautiful crafts. Besides its cultural offerings, Harlem Week also provides a venue for health and education resources. Alston and her fellow volunteers reached hundreds of attendees with information about services available from the UFT for parents, including homework help from Dial-A-Teacher, the UFT’s BRAVE bullying-prevention workshops and know-your-rights workshops about special education. “This is a celebration that’s also a lifeline to parents,” said Nicholas Cruz, the UFT director of family and community engagement. “Harlem Week is a chance for parents to not have to worry about spending money if money is tight — and get supplies and information for the new school year.”