First Annual Back-to-School Community Resource Fair

On left is Nyla Pichardo of the not-for-profit, Raising Solo and Paris Faison, the Associate Executive of Healthy Kids, the Coordinators of Saturday’s Back-to- School Community Resource Fair, which offered an array of essentials for youth and critical information for parents, helping both get excited about the upcoming school year.
On left is Nyla Pichardo of the not-for-profit, Raising Solo and Paris Faison, the Associate Executive of Healthy Kids, the Coordinators of Saturday’s Back-to- School Community Resource Fair, which offered an array of essentials for youth and critical information for parents, helping both get excited about the upcoming school year.

By Jennifer L. Warren

NEW WINDSOR – Nyla Pichardo describes it as “an instant clicking.”

That immediate chemistry that sparked when Pichardo, who leads the not-for profit, Raising Solo, attended the Open House for the New Windsor-based, Healthy Kids Program, and met its Associate Executive, Paris Faison. Sharing a passion for children and community, the duo immediately shared pro-active resources, contacts and ideas. With Pichardo in contact with several parents in need of affordable day care and Faison’s business a participant in Child Care Assistance it was an ideal union. From it, sprung Saturday’s Back-to-School Community Resource Fair, providing essential school supplies for youth, vital community resource information for parents, and an overall uplifting, inclusive, and empowering space, allowing children to get excited for the upcoming school year.

Ashley Collazo, Director of the Mount Saint Mary College Desmond Center, one of the sponsors at Saturday’s Back- to- School event, displays the boxed item, loaded with school supplies- pencil box case, composition box, markers, scissors, erasers, glue and folders, her organization was giving away to guests.
Ashley Collazo, Director of the Mount Saint Mary College Desmond Center, one of the sponsors at Saturday’s Back- to- School event, displays the boxed item, loaded with school supplies- pencil box case, composition box, markers, scissors, erasers, glue and folders, her organization was giving away to guests.

“This is a back-to-school community drive to also give out resources for the community,” explained Faison, whose New Windsor locale is one of 11 learning centers of its kind throughout New York State. “Families are very excited because we haven’t done something like this yet to get both of our names out there.”

Both of those co-organizers of the event, Pichardo and Faison, could be seen interacting with excited guests, detailing the specific community services her organization provided on a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon. They were aided by three actively involved sponsors: Mid Hudson Chocolate Milk, Desmond Center of Mount Saint Mary College (MSMC) and United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region. They are partnerships whose fruits of labor flourished throughout the afternoon.

“Connecting with intention of supporting community wellness is the most rewarding thing there is,” said Chloe Vital of Mid-Hudson Chocolate Milk, who, wearing a huge smile, was handing out a rainbow-colored assortment of book bags to appreciative elementary, middle and high school youth while interacting with them. “It’s been consistently busy here all afternoon, which is really nice to see.”

On right, Chloe Vita of Mid-Hudson Chocolate Milk, one of the sponsors for Saturday’s Back-to-School Community Resource Fair, hands Kyrie Degny, who will be entering sixth grade, a knapsack.
On right, Chloe Vita of Mid-Hudson Chocolate Milk, one of the sponsors for Saturday’s Back-to-School Community Resource Fair, hands Kyrie Degny, who will be entering sixth grade, a knapsack.

That activity was credited to the vast array of community partners who came out to share their expertise. Whether it was Krystine Colon of KSS (Krystin’s Sweet Secrets), selling a delectable assortment of strawberry and chocolate goodies, the Empanada O’Nada and Dutchess Dog House food trucks on site with delicious lunch options for sale, Orange County Department of Health offering useful hygiene products or the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Operation Safe Child, providing critical children’s identification cards, there was something for everyone to benefit from and enjoy.

“We heard about this event from Facebook, and it helps out, every little bit does for back-to-school,” said Brenda Solis who attended with her three children. “They really like their backpacks, toothbrushes, crayons, hand sanitizer and books, really made them happy.”

Happiness was evident among the recipients of the large boxes, chock-filled with academic tools for success, provided by sponsor, Desmond Campus of MSMC. Ashley Collazo, Director of the Desmond Center and someone who formed a strong bond with Pichardo during her MSMC days as a student, revealed the school tools inside: a pencil box, composition book, folders, markers, scissors, erasers, glue and more, delivered with priceless love and care. The sponsor organization also offered spacious, blue, insulated lunch bags, ideal for both children and parents.

On left, Amirah Solis, age three, who will be entering pre-k, and her sister, Sophia Solis, age five, who will be entering kindergarten, display their new purple knapsacks and other goodies for back-to- school they selected Saturday at the Community Resource Fair.
On left, Amirah Solis, age three, who will be entering pre-k, and her sister, Sophia Solis, age five, who will be entering kindergarten, display their new purple knapsacks and other goodies for back-to- school they selected Saturday at the Community Resource Fair.

“I love connecting and giving back while connecting with other community partners,” said Collazo. “Back-to-school should be an exciting time for children and parents, not a stressful one.”

By the looks of the smiles and laughter that covered the faces of people flooding the 565 Union Avenue grounds, the day certainly accomplished that, and much more, for many local families.

Intent on providing their passion-for children, parents, community- to as much of the area as possible, Pichardo and Faison intend to keep the momentum going, getting word out about all the amazing, transformative work they do, to both the City and Towns of Newburgh.

Stay tuned.

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