Latex gloves, masks, disinfectant wipes and other medical supplies were loaded into David Shanahan’s car on March 25 to be donated to local hospitals in need of personal protective equipment. 

After receiving an email from Eastern Suffolk BOCES, outlining the desperate need for these items, the Elwood community wasted no time collecting supplies. Mr. Shanahan, the district’s director of athletics and physical education, reached out to the district’s lead nurse, Lisa McNamara, who coordinated with the schools’ nurses to collect any unused materials for distribution. “Our nurses in the district are terrific,” Mr. Shanahan said. “The first thing they said is ‘How can we help?’”

On March 25, the team delivered a substantial amount of supplies to the drop off location at 102 East Avenue in Yaphank. The supplies were then sorted and distributed to health care workers and first responders in need. 

“The Elwood School district is very pleased to have found a way to support our medical professionals who are on the front line of this battle,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth. Bossert said. “We thank all of them, along with our first responders, for the tremendous sacrifices they make each day in order to keep us all safe.”

Photo captions: Medical supplies, collected by Elwood Union Free School District staff, were loaded into David Shanahan’s car to be donated to local health care workers and first responders in need.  

Photos courtesy of Elwood Union Free School District 

When things get tough, LVCSD students and staff get tougher, and organizing a food drive was the way one group made a difference for those hit financially by COVID-19. 

The food drive was organized by the Watson family, which includes Amy, LVCSD coordinator of world languages and ENL, K-12, along with her husband Edward and children, Locust Valley High School senior Sara, freshman Richie and Locust Valley Middle School sixth grader Lizzie.

Amy Watson said her children are used to helping the community, so jumping into action during this pandemic was natural for them. 

“We saw a need to help those who are losing their jobs or the elderly who can’t go to the store,” she said. “We were amazed by the response from this community. People showed up all day with donations, allowing us to fill 100 bags to donate to community members.”

Lizzie, Richie and Sara worked tirelessly with their parents to organize the food donations, which were collected on March 21. They set up at the Oak Neck Athletic Council facility in Centre Island, with the generous permission of that youth athletic organization, which often partners with the school district and community. Some members of its board of directors volunteered their time to help with the food drive.

Safety measures were taken, allowing residents to pull up in front of the building and have the donations taken from their car. Once all the donations were in, the sorting began. Locust Valley High School junior Zosia LeMaitre joined the Watsons, separating the items into categories and then making up bags that contained a variety of groceries. The bags were donated by a local business. 

On March 22, nearly 50 residents in need came to the same facility where they too could stay safely in their cars and have a bag of groceries brought out to them. Deliveries were made to those who could not get to the food drive.

Amy Watson said the food drive was a success thanks to the help of many community members. She added that the Locust Valley School Administrators Association donated 25 gift cards to the cause. 

“We are one community – the residents, the school district, the local youth groups – we all work together to help when help is needed,” she said.

Photo captions:

FoodDrive (l-r): Locust Valley junior Zosia LeMaitre, freshman Richie Watson, sixth grader Lizzie Watson and senior Sara Watson helped coordinate a community food drive.

FoodDrive2: Locust Valley Middle School sixth grader Lizzie Watson sorts food donations during a community food drive.

Photos courtesy of Locust Valley Central School District

After volunteering much time around the holidays to help others, Lincoln Orens Middle School’s Builder’s Club supported the Melanoma Research Foundation in February through a “Cocoa for Cancer” fundraiser. 

Club members sold hot chocolate during the lunch periods on Feb. 11 to raise money for the organization and increase awareness about Melanoma. A total of $204 will be donated in memory of a student’s family member. The Builders Club is sponsored by the Island Park Kiwanis and meets under the guidance of teacher Karen Davis.

Photo courtesy of Island Park Public Schools

The sun shined down and illuminated the faces of Harborfields’ “Sunshine Girls” as they stood in the courtyard at Oldfield Middle School on March 11. 

The female-run nonprofit group was founded in summer 2019 by Madeline Barker who, after meeting Donna Schmidt of Maggie’s Mission, wanted to spread joy and positivity throughout the community. Maggie’s Mission, in honor of Maggie Schmidt, is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancers.

Since its inception, the Sunshine Girls has raised funds and supported local charities like Maggie’s Mission and Gabby Gives, which was created in honor of former Harborfields High School student Gabby Cava, who recently passed away from colon cancer. She was a close family friend of Sunshine Girl Natalie Hering. 

“Watching her and her family fight the battle with cancer impacted my life tremendously,” she said. “Gabby was fearless and fun and always full of joy, even on her hardest days. I want to do anything I can to help spread the joy I saw in her to others fighting their own battles.”

The group’s first public appearance was on Halloween at Value Drugs in Greenlawn, where they handed out candy to trick-or-treaters and collected donations for Maggie’s Mission. “I hope we made an impact that day and continue to help others,” Mia McNally said.

Since Halloween, the girls have raised over $4,000 wrapping gifts for the holidays, performed in Harborfields High School’s variety show and most recently, collected over 600 fuzzy socks to donate to area hospitals in honor of Gabby Cava. “She loved fuzzy socks,” Natalie said. 

The remaining Sunshine Girls, Giavana Ciaramitaro, Sophia Casillo, Lyla Barker, Liana Flowers and Kaitlyn Wille all shared stories of why they chose to join the nonprofit, which ranged from personal connections to simple desires to give back to those less fortunate. 

‘When I was offered a spot in this organization, I accepted it without thinking twice, and so far, it has been the best decision I have ever made,” Liana said. 

Photo captions: Pictured left to right, Mia McNally, Sophia Casillo, Madeline Barker, Natalie Hering, Kaitlyn Wille, Lyla Barker, Giavana Ciaramitaro and Liana Flowers. 

Photos courtesy of Harborfields Central School District 

It was an eventful day at the Carle Place Middle-High School as students, staff and community members raised a record breaking $28,413 for Duke Children’s Dr. Kishnani’s Pompe Disease Fund during the school’s 13th annual Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause on Feb. 28. Leading the program were Key Club adviser Ms. Maddalena Buffalino and Student Organization adviser Ms. Jillian Kelly.

Pompe disease is a rare, inherited condition that affects multiple organ systems due to a buildup of glycogen in the body. The funds that were raised will assist in advance research, develop new therapies and improve the quality of life for patients. This charity was chosen by the students, who were inspired by the story of Roseann and John Favicchia’s granddaughter Sophia, who is impacted by this disease.

During the battle, students participated in events like skit competition, coin wars, potato sack race, inflatable obstacle course and tug of war. The district congratulates the Class of 2020 for winning the battle.

Funds were raised outside of school and through an online fundraising platform. The district applauds the dedication and commitment that students and staff devoted to achieve this successful outcome.

Photo caption: 1-6: Carle Place Middle-High School students and staff successfully raised a record breaking $28,413 for Duke Children’s Dr. Kishnani’s Pompe Disease Fund during the school’s 13th annual Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause.

Photos courtesy of the Carle Place School District