HHA Holds Eco-Friendly Back to School Event

Written by Lauren Zisa

Hoboken Housing Authority residents celebrated the beginning of another school year with a Global Party at Mama Johnson Field on Wednesday, Sept. 5. The annual Back to School - Green is Cool event was hosted by the housing authority in partnership with community agencies to teach children and families the importance of getting an education and protecting the environment.

On this hot summer day, youngsters and their parents and friends enjoyed an afternoon complete with a healthy barbecue, environmentally-friendly school supply giveaways, a bounce house and a sling shot and music.

Hoboken Housing Authority Executive Director Carmelo Garcia said blending a back to school event with an eco-friendly program was his goal.

“We want our kids to be more conscious about our carbon footprint and how we can contribute to saving our environment,” he said.  “I encourage our kids to take their education and the environment seriously. They are starting to realize that every single person can make a difference.”

Children ages 5 and up received a backpack filled with school supplies, many of them made from recycled materials. The backpacks were donated by JP Morgan Chase, the Boys and Girls Club and HealthFirst. Each backpack also came with encouraging words from Garcia, who urged the boys and girls to take their educations seriously and work toward their dreams. He reminded them of the public housing resident slogan, “I can. I will. Watch me.”

Some young resident volunteers thought about what the new school year would bring, while others discussed what they would like to be when they grow up. Some of the options included teacher, lawyer and even an FBI agent.

Vendors distributed educational materials and school supplies such as crayons, pens, pencils and coloring books. Vendors included Hudson County Community College, Assurance Wireless, Hudson County Improvement Authority, Hudson County Sewerage Authority and Hoboken Recycling.