Miller Avenue’s Student Council members are an encouraging group of student-leaders. They collected food for the school’s Thanksgiving food drive. Using math skills, they divided and sorted the items into boxes for local families in need. They also added some artistic flair by creating colorful placemats and centerpieces for each box of donations. Advisers Mrs. Mary Anne Benz and Mr. Robert Korchma are set to have the donations delivered to local families in the Shoreham-Wading River community. 

 

Photo caption: Miller Avenue’s Student Council members. 

 

Photos courtesy of the Shoreham-Wading River Central School District

It is the season of giving back and students across Freeport Public Schools have fully embraced helping those in need with food drives, turkey trots and fundraisers for local and regional support organizations. 

From Leo F. Giblyn, New Visions and Archer Street elementary schools, students and staff in each building collected a multitude and wide variety of nonperishable food items for Freeport Outreach and the Our Holy Redeemer Food Pantry. The thousands of food items will be distributed to those in need by the food pantry during the holiday season. In addition, kindergarten students from Columbus made Thanksgiving bracelets which featured colored beads that symbolize different Thanksgiving season concepts including yellow for peace and friendship, an ideal Freeport Schools continually practices. 

“During this time of giving thanks, it is important to remember the needs of others,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kishore Kuncham. “Giving just a little goes a long way and for our students to express their gratitude to our community with such great generosity is truly phenomenal.” 

The Archer Street Elementary School’s annual turkey trot brought students outdoors wearing decorative crowns and holding festive Thanksgiving signs as they marched around the school building to raise funds for Island Harvest. The students and staff raised $3,500 for the regional organization to thank them for their support of the school district. 

Bayview Avenue Elementary School’s turkey trot also acted to raise funds for those in need with students and staff raising $1,373.98 for Bethany House. 

Working together in the spirit of giving, Freeport High School’s Human Relations Club hosted a “Change 4 Change” loose change fundraiser along with a food drive, in which all donated items and funds raised will be donated to Island Harvest after Thanksgiving. 

“The efforts of our students to think beyond their own wants and needs is truly a testament to the wonderful sense of connection we have in our district and the importance we place on being impactful, upstanding members of society,” said Dr. Kuncham.

 

Photo captions: 

1. Rebecca Correnti’s second grade class at Leo F. Giblyn Elementary School collected the largest number of food items in the school to donate to Our Holy Redeemer Food Pantry. 
2. New Visions Elementary School hosted a food drive and in addition to items to stock the Our Holy Redeemer Food Pantry shelves, created Thanksgiving feast baskets.  
3. Archer Street Elementary School hosted their annual Turkey Trot and raised $3,500 for Island Harvest. 
4. The Human Relations Club at Freeport High School hosted a “Change 4 Change” loose change fundraise and a food drive for Island Harvest. 

 

Photos courtesy of Freeport Public Schools

The Student Leadership Council at Cutchogue East Elementary School, in the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District, wanted to bring the spirit of Thanksgiving to local families. The Student Leadership Council, under advisers special education teacher Katie Killeen and music teacher Bryan Bowie, is comprised of several students in grades 5-6. 

Students in all grade levels were invited to participate in a Thanksgiving food drive. To ensure a variety of foods would be donated, it was recommended that each grade level donate different foods including corn bread mix, stuffing, canned vegetables and canned cranberry sauce. 

Thanks to the amazing generosity of students, their families and staff, a large donation of food was given to Community Action Southold Town and the community.

 

Photo caption: MC CE Food Drive: The Cutchogue East Elementary School Student Leadership Council, under advisers music teacher Bryan Bowie and special education teacher Katie Killeen, collected and donated food for the holidays to CAST and the community.

 

Photo courtesy of the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District

Photo caption: The Bellport High School National Honor Society hosted a successful blood drive on Nov. 17. During the event, the society collected 65 pints of blood.

 

Photo courtesy of the South Country Central School District

Photo caption: In recognition of National Diabetes Month, members of the Westhampton Beach Middle School Student Council donated $215 to the American Diabetes Association, which focuses on research, advocacy and educational programs. The students raised the donation by selling customized blue wristbands.    

 

Photo courtesy of the Westhampton Beach School District