Cottage Home Care Services hosts back-to-school giveback for 500 children

More than 500 children and families from across Queens gathered in South Richmond Hill for a day of celebration, community and giving as Cottage Home Care Services hosted its Back-to-School Giveback & Family Fun Day at Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park in New York.

The free event brought together families from Richmond Hill, South Richmond Hill and surrounding Caribbean communities, reflecting the cultural diversity and close-knit spirit of one of Queens’ largest Caribbean communities.

For families preparing for the new school year, the event offered more than entertainment. Children received free backpacks and school supplies, helping parents offset some of the growing costs associated with getting ready for school.

But the day was designed to be about more than a giveaway.

Children enjoyed face painting, balloon twisting, a live bunny show, character appearances, Zumba, a self-defense demonstration, sweet treats, food and music from a live DJ. The activities created an atmosphere where children could celebrate the start of a new school year while families connected with neighbors and community partners.

For Cottage Home Care Services, the event reflects the agency’s commitment to serving the community beyond its work providing care and support to seniors and families.

“This event was about showing our children that their community believes in them,” said Navin Shivpal, CEO of the agency. “We wanted families to have the supplies they need for school, but we also wanted to create a day where children could simply have fun, feel celebrated and know that people are invested in their future.”

The gathering was particularly significant for the Caribbean community in Queens, where generations of Guyanese and other Caribbean families have established roots. The event brought together children, parents, grandparents, community organizations and supporters, reinforcing the importance of collective investment in the next generation.

Among the community partners and supporters involved were Don’s Coconut, Cinnabon Carvel Hollis, Drink Your Fantasy, The Luxe Library, NYPD Desi and AnnieMohan.

For parents, the backpacks and school supplies provided practical support at a time when back-to-school expenses can place additional pressure on household budgets. For children, the event offered something beyond the supplies: an opportunity to feel seen, supported and celebrated.

The gathering also underscored the role local businesses and organizations can play in strengthening neighborhoods. By creating spaces where families can access resources while enjoying a day together, community events can help build connections that extend well beyond a single afternoon.

As families left the park with backpacks, school supplies and memories from the celebration, the message from Cottage Home Care Services was clear: Community care extends beyond a professional service.

It means showing up. It means giving back.

And it means investing in the children and families who will shape the future of Queens.

For a community with deep Caribbean roots and a strong tradition of looking out for its own, the Back-to-School Giveback was more than a celebration. It was a reminder that when a community comes together, children begin the school year knowing they do not have to face it alone.

The agency is extending its back-to-school outreach beyond Queens, sending backpacks and school supplies to 200 children in the Berbice region of Guyana, according to the agency’s PR consultant, Tracey Khan.

The supplies will be distributed to children in underserved communities throughout the region, continuing Cottage Home Care Services’ commitment to supporting families both locally and internationally.

“Those backpacks and supplies will go to some of the most underserved communities in the Berbice area,” Khan said. “The children are waiting for them, and we know they will be very happy to receive them.”