By TALIA WIENER
wiener@montclairlocal.news

Backpacks were stuffed, hairlines were trimmed and vaccines were administered at Glenfield Park on Sunday, during Montclair Sentinels 16-87’s 14th annual school supply giveaway. 

The Sentinels, an association of Montclair police of color, and other community sponsors teamed up to provide supplies and an afternoon of fun and community for kids, Detective Anjanette Sanders said. Sanders is the Montclair school district’s sole resource officer, and the coordinator of the event this year.

“It’s important to have an event like this so we can make sure that no child goes to school without anything,” Sanders said. “We love each other so we just want to spread that positivity and make sure all the kids get whatever they need.” 

The event featured face painting, games and music, all to get kids excited to return to school, Sanders said. 

“We just want them to be safe and have a great year,” Sanders said.

Rising seventh grader at Buzz Aldrin Middle School Camila Chavarria said she heard about the event from the local education nonprofit Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence, which worked with Essex County to bring its mobile vaccination clinic to the event. 

“I got notebooks, pencils, a backpack and a book,” Chavarria said. “I am excited for school to start.”

Sanders said 240 backpacks with school supplies were picked up, with none left over at the end of the event. The giveaway was supported by many donors, but the largest were the Placek Family, the Silver Family Foundation and Applegate Farm, she said. Haircuts were provided for free to students by Keycuts, and music was by DJ Moore. In all, 28 sponsor groups brought volunteers.

Essex County nurse Manoucheka Giles said the county’s mobile coronavirus vaccine clinic had administered 15 vaccines to community members by 12:30 pEssex County spokesman Anthony Puglisi said 46 vaccines were administered during the event. 
Essex County nurse Manoucheka Giles said the county’s mobile coronavirus vaccine clinic had administered 15 vaccines to community members by 12:30 pEssex County spokesman Anthony Puglisi said 46 vaccines were administered during the event. 
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Essex County spokesman Anthony Puglisi said 46 vaccines were administered during the event. 

“Anything more than one and we’ve done a great job,” Essex County nurse Manoucheka Giles said. “And hopefully we’ll see more people before the day is over.” 

The county had also tested eight people for COVID-19, Giles said. 

Through the support of an anonymous donor, MFEE guaranteed $100 to the first 50 people to register for and follow through with full vaccination — whether two injections of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, or one of Johnson & Johnson. MFEE members said they’d follow up with those who registered to confirm vaccination and distribute the incentives.

Montclair Department of Health nursing director Margaret Brodowski said the event was a good opportunity to share information about resources that the department provides. 

“We want to reach all the populations in our community and share with them what we have to offer,” Brodowski said. “After this year when we were so locked up, it’s a pleasure to be out here.”

Bella Jean Baptiste exits Glenfield Park with her cup of Applegate Ice Cream and a bookbag for school. (ADAM ANIK / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Bella Jean Baptiste exits Glenfield Park with her cup of Applegate Ice Cream and a bookbag for school. (ADAM ANIK / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Keith Johnson paints a bright butterfly for Yarchi Dubon.on the plaza of the Wally Choice Community Center. (ADAM ANIK / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Keith Johnson paints a bright butterfly for Yarchi Dubon.on the plaza of the Wally Choice Community Center. (ADAM ANIK / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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In the Wally Choice Community Center, Montclair Police Department Chaplain Harry Chiomba-Maseko helps Mode Garcia choose bookbags for her children. (ADAM ANIK / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
In the Wally Choice Community Center, Montclair Police Department Chaplain Harry Chiomba-Maseko helps Mode Garcia choose bookbags for her children. (ADAM ANIK / FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Rising sixth grader Nareem Baucum-Funderburk gets his hair cut by local barber Zane Keyes of Keycuts Barber Shop during a school supplies giveaway in Glenfield Park on Sunday. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Rising sixth grader Nareem Baucum-Funderburk gets his hair cut by local barber Zane Keyes of Keycuts Barber Shop during a school supplies giveaway in Glenfield Park on Sunday. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Montclair Department of Health nursing director Margaret Brodowski, left, and public health nurse Emily Racoosin share information about the township’s COVID-19 resources. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Montclair Department of Health nursing director Margaret Brodowski, left, and public health nurse Emily Racoosin share information about the township’s COVID-19 resources. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Seventh grader Camila Chavarria, left, and her friends attend the Montclair Sentinels 16-87’s 14th annual school supply giveaway to collect new supplies and prepare for the school year. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Seventh grader Camila Chavarria, left, and her friends attend the Montclair Sentinels 16-87’s 14th annual school supply giveaway to collect new supplies and prepare for the school year. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Montclair Fund for Education Excellence community health workers Aminah Toler, left, and Robin Curry, right, pose with Montclair NAACP Political Action Chair ​​Kevin Pierre at the Montclair Sentinels 16-87’s 14th annual school supply giveaway. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Montclair Fund for Education Excellence community health workers Aminah Toler, left, and Robin Curry, right, pose with Montclair NAACP Political Action Chair ​​Kevin Pierre at the Montclair Sentinels 16-87’s 14th annual school supply giveaway. (TALIA WIENER / MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Montclair Fourth Ward Councilman David Cummings joins the line of Sentinels at the 14th Annual Back to School Supply Give-Away Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Montclair Fourth Ward Councilman David Cummings joins the line of Sentinels at the 14th Annual Back to School Supply Give-Away Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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In addition to bookbags, the Montclair Sentinels gave out free pencils, books and more to students at the Wally Choice Community Center on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
In addition to bookbags, the Montclair Sentinels gave out free pencils, books and more to students at the Wally Choice Community Center on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Grill master Charles Murphy of the Masonic Eureka Lodge No. 52 keeps the chicken warm for the crew of volunteers at the Montclair Sentinels' annual school supplies giveaway Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Grill master Charles Murphy of the Masonic Eureka Lodge No. 52 keeps the chicken warm for the crew of volunteers at the Montclair Sentinels' annual school supplies giveaway Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Liana Riera, left, distributes hot dogs, burgers and other refreshments from the Eureka Lodge grill crew to attendees of the Montclair Sentinels' annual school supplies giveaway Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Liana Riera, left, distributes hot dogs, burgers and other refreshments from the Eureka Lodge grill crew to attendees of the Montclair Sentinels' annual school supplies giveaway Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Joel Aguilar picks up a bouncy "moneyball" on his way out of the Sentinels' school supplies giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Joel Aguilar picks up a bouncy "moneyball" on his way out of the Sentinels' school supplies giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake gets vaccinated at the Essex County mobile vaccination unit in Glenfield Park during the Montclair Sentinels' annual school supplies giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake gets vaccinated at the Essex County mobile vaccination unit in Glenfield Park during the Montclair Sentinels' annual school supplies giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Anthony Gonzalez finds something to read among the hundreds of books on the Montclair Public Library's table during the Sentinels' annual school supply giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Anthony Gonzalez finds something to read among the hundreds of books on the Montclair Public Library's table during the Sentinels' annual school supply giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates founder Cynthia Walker, center, and volunteers, spread their message about domestic violence at the Montclair Sentinels' school supply giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
Start Out Fresh Intervention Advocates founder Cynthia Walker, center, and volunteers, spread their message about domestic violence at the Montclair Sentinels' school supply giveaway on Sunday. (ADAM ANIK/FOR MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
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