It's all about the importance of education and staying in school.
Isabella Bedell, 6, of Syracuse, can't help but feel a little squeamish about the 11-foot albino Burmese python that Diana Sleiertin, of Jordan, is holding as Isabella and her brother, Joseph, 8, take a picture with the snake. They are at Mary Nelson's 9th Annual Youth Day Barbecue, on South Salina Street, Syracuse. Sleiertin is the owner of MaxMan Reptile Rescue.
Syracuse, NY - Mary Nelson’s ninth annual Youth Day barbecue and school supply giveaway took place today, and once again grew tremendously from the previous year.
Last year, 9,000 youngsters registered. This year, about 15,000 registered for school supplies.
More than 1,000 organizations – from small church groups to large organizations like the Syracuse City School District and Crouse Hospital – helped to sponsor or otherwise support the event.
Mary Nelson organized about 400 volunteers to keep the event running smoothly. It began at 11 a.m. with a parade on South Salina Street.
“Listen up!” Nelson yelled, rallying the crowd to start the parade. “I want everyone to chant, ‘This is the 9th annual youth day barbecue.’ “
Smiling parents and children followed her lead, marching down South Salina Street at Colvin Street.
“When I first started, this was about my nephew,” said Nelson. “But now I can fill a need in my community.” Nelson’s nephew, Darryl Patterson, died at age 23 of a gunshot wound. In his memory, Nelson held the first youth day barbecue as an anti-violence tactic and has grown it since then.
At 1 p.m., the backpack giveaway began for the 15,000 who registered. Volunteers oversaw the supplies, organized in buffet-style tables. Parents picked their choice of supplies for pre-k youngsters through college-age.
“I like that she holds this event every year,” said Kristina Wilkerson who was first in line to get a backpack for her 7-year-old granddaughter. “It really helps a bunch of needy kids.”
The help didn’t stop with supplies. Along three blocks of Salina Street, near the Beauchamp branch library, nearly 60 businesses, organizations and community groups set up booths offering information and services.
Say Yes to Education, a non-profit agency, was among them. The agency has pledged to secure free college tuition for every city child who graduates from high school in the city school district. At its booth, Say Yes handed out balloons, pencils, and pamphlets explaining the program and emphasizing the importance of staying in school.
Sanaa Smith, 5, of Syracuse dances with her group, Party People, at Mary Nelson's annual barbecue and school-supply giveaway.The nearby People’s AME Zion Church held a free clothing drive with tables of shirts, shoes, sweaters, and coats.
Crouse Hospital gave free blood pressure screenings to roughly 300 people along with health proxy cards and medication logs.
“It’s really a great event,” said Leesa Kelly, manager of community health outreach at Crouse Hospital. “The average cost of school supplies is $40 so this isn’t just for people who don’t have money. It’s for people with 4 or 5 kids.”
Kelly said it focuses the attention of parents and children on the importance of education and staying in school.
Although she didn’t attend, Mayor Stephanie Minor issued a proclamation this year, declaring Aug. 21 as the official Mary Nelson Youth Day BBQ recognition day.
Mary Nelson’s youth day was not the only giveaway of school supplies on Saturday.
On the North Side, the Father’s Heart Ministries handed out about 750 backpacks to children at the Butternut Street church.
Pastor James Gebhardt said another 50 backpacks will be given to children in the church’s congregation, as well as affiliated ministries. The backpacks include pencils, pens, glue sticks and notebooks.
It’s the seventh year Gebhardt has organized the giveaway, which started with about 50 backpacks in 2003. Last year, about 700 total backpacks were distributed.
In addition Saturday, Gebhardt’s church handed out 1.5 tons of vegetables donated by Matthew 25 Farms, in Tully, which gives out free food to needy and teaches community members how to grow their own crops.