Hundreds of East Ramapo families picked up free backpacks and school supplies Wednesday morning at the district’s Back-to-School Fair at Spring Valley High School.

Assemblyman Aron Wieder joined the event hosted by the East Ramapo Family Welcome Center, which ran from 9 a.m. to noon at 361 Route 59. Wieder partnered with the Community Outreach Center, under Rabbi Horowitz, to sponsor school supplies through state funding secured for the organization. Backpacks were provided by other donors through the Family Resource Center.

While at the fair, Wieder met with new Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez and school board member Sabrina Charles-Pierre to discuss continued support for students in the Assembly. His office also operated a mobile constituent services table to assist residents with state agencies.

Standing with organizers from the Family Resource Center, Wieder praised the work on the ground.

“I’m here with Christine and Jackie of the Family Resource Center in East Ramapo, where they’re doing such a wonderful job,” Wieder said. “I’m amazed at the kind of work they do handing out backpacks and school supplies. I’m really lucky to be able to partner with such wonderful people.”

“I hope this is going to be the first of many years where we will be able to help the kids get a good head start in school and a head start in life,” he added.

Organizers thanked Wieder for his support. “We couldn’t have done the event without your generous donation,” one organizer said, noting families were “very thankful and very appreciative.”

Wieder closed by highlighting the partnership, saying, “East Ramapo is such a wonderful district because of such wonderful people.”