Riverhead NY
8-24-2026 5:19pm

Butterfly Effect Project Brings Back-to-School Support to Riverhead Families

Butterfly Effect Project Brings Back-to-School Support to Riverhead Families

More than 200 participants registered for the nonprofit’s Backpack & BBQ Giveaway aimed at helping local children prepare for the new school year

By Samantha Vogel | Long Island Daily News

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. — As families across Long Island prepare for another school year, a Riverhead nonprofit recently brought the community together with an initiative designed to make sure local children had some of the supplies and support they needed to head back to the classroom.

The Butterfly Effect Project (BEP) held its Backpack & BBQ Giveaway on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the organization’s Riverhead headquarters at 1146 Main Road.

More than 200 participants had registered for the event, according to information provided by the organization ahead of the giveaway.

The community event offered free backpacks and school supplies to help children prepare for the upcoming academic year while also providing food, activities and an opportunity for families to spend time together.

For the Butterfly Effect Project, organizers said the event was about more than handing out supplies.

“Our Backpack & BBQ Giveaway is about more than giving away school supplies,” the organization said in its announcement. “It is about bringing our community together and letting our young people know that we are behind them as they begin another school year.”

Helping Families Prepare for Back to School

The beginning of a new school year can bring a long shopping list for parents and caregivers, from backpacks and notebooks to pencils and other classroom necessities.

Community giveaways such as BEP’s event are intended to help ease some of that burden while making sure children have supplies as they return to school.

The Backpack & BBQ Giveaway combined that assistance with a community gathering featuring a barbecue and activities for participating families.

The organization said the strong registration response also provided an opportunity to highlight the continuing need for back-to-school assistance within the community.

BEP credited local organizations, businesses, volunteers and community members working together to support young people.

The Butterfly Effect Project’s Mission

The Butterfly Effect Project is a Riverhead-based nonprofit organization founded by Tijuana Fulford that works with girls and young women through mentoring, educational opportunities and community programs.

Events such as the Backpack & BBQ Giveaway also bring families, volunteers and community partners together around the organization’s broader goal of supporting local youth.

The Aug. 13 event was held at the organization’s headquarters at 1146 Main Road in Riverhead.

The Butterfly Effect Project can be reached at 631-591-0759 for additional information about its programs and community initiatives.

This story is based on information provided by The Butterfly Effect Project in an Aug. 13, 2026 press release. The release stated that more than 200 participants were registered for the event; it did not provide a final attendance figure.

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