Back-to-school season can be expensive before you even get to the first day of class, but this year, New York Restoration Project is stepping in to lighten the load. Beginning Sunday, August 10, the nonprofit will give away more than 1,200 backpacks stocked with school supplies at community gardens across all five boroughs, running through the end of the month.

The annual program—made possible by the Citizens Philanthropic Foundation—packs each bag with notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue sticks and other classroom basics. Supplies are first come, first served and children must be there in person to receive them.

Founded in 1995 by singer and actress Bette Midler, NYRP is best known for transforming underused spaces into vibrant public gardens and parks in neighborhoods that need them m

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