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Photo caption: Students in Northport High School’s Junior Honor Society collected pet food and supplies to donate to Little Shelter Animal Rescue. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Northport-East Northport Union Free School District.

 

Parliament Place Elementary School in the North Babylon Union Free School District has received new benches, thanks to ninth grader Gianna Beck. Beck is a former Parliament Place student and worked toward obtaining the benches as part of her Silver Award Project for the Girl Scouts.

After several fundraisers and the challenges of the pandemic, Beck raised enough money to purchase two benches. They were installed by the buildings and grounds crew at Parliament Place, with one placed along the grass area at the front of the school and the other in the kindergarten playground. Each bench has a tag with Beck’s name attached.

The Beck family is planning a ceremony at the school in June to unveil the benches.

 

Photos courtesy of the North Babylon Union Free School District

 

Photo caption: The Massapequa High School ladies swim and dive team held its annual Swim for a Cure event in April. The team chose to donate its proceeds, more than $4,400 to the American Heart Association to honor Kiani Morisi, a senior swimmer who had open heart surgery as an infant. The ladies also learned that head coach Kelly Malone’s uncle was one of the first open heart surgery patients for children, suffering from the same condition that Kiani was born with. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District

 

An important cause energized students and staff at Merrimac Elementary School in the Sachem Central School District as they recently participated in a month long initiative to raise money and awareness for ALS and the ALS Ride for Life, founded by Chris Pendergast. 

In honor of Pendergast, who sadly passed away in October 2020, students and staff at Merrimac created a plan to recreate his famous annual feat of traveling from Montauk to Yankee Stadium to raise awareness for the disease. Throughout the month, during physical education class, the school ran or walked their desired distance which collectively added to the distance traveled during Pendergast’s ride. 

In addition to the school’s distance goal, the building also met its monetary goal of raising $1,200 through donations for the ALS Ride for Life.

 

Photo caption: Merrimac Elementary School students recently participated in a monthlong initiative to raise money and awareness for ALS and the ALS Ride for Life, founded by Chris Pendergast.

 

Photos courtesy of the Sachem Central School District

 

Members of the Lynbrook High School Key Club have not only raised thousands of dollars this year for charitable organizations, they have also saved lives. The club hosted its third and final blood drive of the school year on May 1 in the Lynbrook High School gymnasium where a total of 82 pints of blood was donated to those in need. 

Despite the restrictions due to COVID-19 this year, club members were determined to make their blood drives a success. As a result, they were able to donate more than 217 pints of blood this school year, surpassing their original donation goal. 

 “This year has been all about going with the flow and doing our best to make a difference, and I am really happy with the impact Key Club has been able to have in the community and for people in need,” said incoming Key Club President and LHS junior Emma Ward.

During the May 1 event, many Key Club members donated blood and countless other members attended the blood drive as volunteers. A large group of Key Club members also had family or friends donate along with them or for them if they did not qualify or were underage. 

Incoming Key Club Social Media Manager and LHS junior Abigail Almonte felt “incredibly humbled and thrilled” that she was able to donate blood. 

“It’s amazing how a causal 20-minute donation can make such a huge impact on someone else’s life,” she said. “I am eager to keep donating.”

This spirit is felt throughout the Lynbrook community as the blood drives are one of the Lynbrook High School Key Club’s major annual events. Dr. Benedict Tieniber, key club adviser, enjoyed being able to hold the event again at the high school. 

“I am extremely proud of this group,” he said. 

Key Club members are already excited for next year’s blood drives and look forward to continuing to make a difference in so many lives.

 

Photo captions:

1. Lynbrook Key Club adviser Dr. Benedict Tieniber (left) and Key Club Co-President Carly Tucker at the blood drive on May 1.
2. Senior Key Club member Leo Finkelstein was one of many members to donate blood.
3. Senior Key Club member Victoria Medina donated blood.
4. Incoming Key Club board member Abby Almonte supported the cause and donated blood during the Lynbrook High School Key Club blood drive on May 1.

 

Photos courtesy of the Lynbrook Public Schools