Neighbor News
Handy Hosted 100 Youth for Their Annual Back-to-School Shopping Spree
The shopping spree was in partnership with TJX Companies and sponsored by JM Family Enterprises and other private donors.
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On August 4th, Handy (Helping Advance and Nurture the Development of Youth), a non-profit organization that provides resources and programs to youth and families to achieve self-sufficiency, hosted its annual Back-to-School Shopping Spree at the Coral Ridge Mall in Fort Lauderdale.
During the event, 100 Handy youth were each given $100.00 to go on a fun-filled Back-to-School shopping spree and purchased essentials including clothing, backpacks, school supplies, and personal hygiene items. In attendance were Handy staff and volunteers, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and JM Family Enterprises representatives.
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“Our kids are all receiving backpacks full of supplies, in addition to gift cards to shop today,” said Nardege Laforest, Chief Program Officer at Handy, “It’s an exciting time for our kids returning to school and Handy just wants to be here as an additional support system to make sure that they’re successful going into the new school year.”
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Since 1985, Handy has helped over 50,000 at-promise youth and their families achieve self-sufficiency. As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, Handy provides customized programs that meet the individual needs of a child through four unique pillars: Handy Youth [Case Management], Handy Cares [Mental Health Services], Handy Futures [Education and Career Development], and Handy Homes [Housing Assistance].