As families in Cypress Hills get ready to head back to the classroom, Zonobia Crowell is making sure they have the tools to succeed.

"We might not have all the, the supplies that they need, but I hope that it helps a little bit to, to get them on their way,” she said. 

Crowell is behind this backpack giveaway at the Essex Street Community Garden. She is a volunteer gardener coordinator for the New York Restoration Project, which owns the Brooklyn space.

"I love to do this because I know our community needs it,” Crowell said. “I try to do this every year. So that, you know, people like this can all get a bag." 

Crowell started the distribution more than a decade ago with 75 backpacks. Over time, she’s grown the event to include more supplies and neighborhood services.

"Each partner brings a different kind of helpful resource for the parents and- as well as the children,” she said.

"It definitely sets us up on the right foot,” Ashanti Walker, an East New York parent, said. “I need backpacks, I need some books, pencils and definitely books because my children love to read."

And it's not just this giveaway. Crowell has also organized coat distributions, arts and crafts events and more. Her goal is to invite people into this green space.  

"People need to know that they can come in here and grow things,” Crowell said. "It teaches them to grow their own food or healthy food, fruits and vegetables,” she continued.

Crowell says it's just about showing up for eastern Brooklyn.

"There's so many things that we don't have, you know, and just to be able to give back to the community is, you know, is what we need,” she said. “We need each other."

For getting her neighborhood back to school, Zonobia Crowell is our New Yorker of the Week.