Lower School Families Expand Impact at Second Annual Backpack Assembly

While the Lower School campus is typically quiet during Student-Led Conference Day, the Weprin Family Student Center was transformed into a hub of activity and shared purpose this year. 

For the second year in a row, families took advantage of the break from regular classes to volunteer at the Backpack Assembly event. This was an opportunity for parents to serve alongside their children and siblings within the school walls. This year’s effort saw remarkable growth, with the community successfully assembling 750 backpacks, a significant stride forward from the 600 completed during last year’s inaugural event.

Organized by Lower School mothers Erin Jackman P’36 and Christine Nessen P’34, the project is powered by The Brooke Jackman Foundation (BJF). The foundation was established in memory of Erin’s sister, Brooke, a 23-year-old victim of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Brooke was an avid reader who dreamed of becoming a social worker; today, BJF fulfills that unfinished mission by promoting children’s literacy across New York and Florida. By integrating this mission into Conference Day, the school turned a day usually focused on individual academic progress into a collective effort to empower underserved students.

These 750 backpacks have been delivered to provide immediate support to children both locally and abroad. A large portion was donated to The Soup Kitchen, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has served the local community since 1983. In a particularly moving addition to this year’s outreach, supplies were also sent to the Jamaican community of Ozzie Howard, a beloved member of the Saint Andrew's maintenance team. After Ozzie’s home community was devastated by Hurricane Melissa, these backpacks will provide a direct line of relief and support from our families to his. Through this growing tradition, Saint Andrew’s families continue to honor Brooke’s legacy by ensuring hundreds of children are equipped with the tools they need to succeed.

Click here to see photos.