Local union donates school supplies

WILMINGTON — The start of school is right around the corner and some local students can’t afford new school supplies.

That’s why the local International Longshoreman’s Association, a maritime union, sponsored Family Fun and Friends Day at the union hall in Wilmington Saturday.

ILA members handed out school supplies to nearly 300 kids, including backpacks, pens, pencils, and paper. Some of the money for the supplies was donated, but the majority came from funds raised within the union.

The event has been an annual tradition over the past few years. Bashir El-Amin, an ILA member, said, “We feel very good about it because it’s getting larger each year. Last year we think we had about 200, so it’s increasing.”

Sixth grader Nadiiah Abdussalaam was anxious to get her new supplies. She said, “It’s not very comfortable getting, using old school supplies and having a chance to get new school supplies for a new year feels a lot better.”