LYNN — A local man raised on the Lynn public education system is continuing his tradition of giving back to the community. Michael Quintana, an employee for the commuter rail, spends his free time donating backpacks and school supplies to public schools and single-parent families in need.
“I had a big, big family growing up in Lynn and we had a tough childhood but I appreciate everything about it because it made me who I am today,” he said. “As I got older I told myself when I am in a position to give back, I am most definitely going to do it.”
Quintana, a Lynn Classical alumnus, has been keeping up with this tradition for the last three years. When he first began delivering the donations he was told by the head of the school department that he needed to get the donations approved but, according to him, when he did, the supplies sat in their office for months.
“They told me the supplies became hard to disperse when it was realized that most Lynn public school teachers do not live close by so they couldn’t find the time to stop by the school department office and pick up some of the supplies for their students.”
As it became harder to keep up with these much-needed donations and deliveries by himself, Quintana reached out to longtime friend Brian Castellanos as well as Lynn-based organizations White Rose Coffeehouse and media startup “For The Culture” for a lending hand.
Early Wednesday morning, Quintana, accompanied by Castellanos, personally delivered a donation of 25 backpacks and a box of various school supplies to Lynn Classical High School. Before the beginning of the school year they will continue to deliver their donations around the city of Lynn.
“My house almost looks like Walmart,” he said. “I have about 3,000 notebooks and 225 backpacks there.”
