For Melanie Kane’s first grade students at McKenna Elementary School in the Massapequa School District, helping others is a way of life. Her class was declared food drive champions for their generosity during four sports-themed food collections this year.

It started in the fall with the baseball themed “World Cereal” challenge, followed by the “Souper Bowl,” the “March Madness” peanut butter and jelly and challenge and finally the “Stanley Cupboard” drive for non-perishable food items. Ms. Kane’s students collectively donated more food than any other class at McKenna in all four food drives.

Ms. Kane said that the competition for each trophy gets the children excited, which translates into more donations. Items go to local food pantries. Since the first “Souper Bowl” collection in 2014, Ms. Kane’s class has won five years out of six.

“We get a little competitive,” she said, “but it’s all for a good cause.”

 

Photo caption: Melanie Kane’s first grade class had the most donations in each of four separate food drives this year at McKenna Elementary School.

 

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District

This year’s fifth grade class at Fairfield Elementary School in the Massapequa School District will be remembered for a long time. As a fundraiser for various activities throughout the year, students sold personalized bricks.

More than 200 bricks were sold and placed together in front of the school sign, adjacent to the walkway leading to the main entrance. In the center of the brick arrangement is “Fairfield Class of 2019” with the paw print school logo, followed by “Where character leaves its mark and memories were made.”

While many graduating classes have donated benches to the school as gift, this year’s fifth-graders decided to leave their mark in a different way. The fundraiser supported activities such as the fifth-grade trip, sports day and the year-end bagel breakfast, which was held on June 12 just before the brick display was dedicated.

 

Photos courtesy of the Massapequa School District

Waverly Park Elementary School students, staff and families put their walking shoes on for the school’s annual Walk-A-Thon on June 7. Organized each year by the Waverly Park Student Council, the event brings the school community together as student council members present donations to various charitable organizations which is followed by a walk-through of Hewlett Harbor.

This year, the school community raised $1,600 with money going towards The Princess Deeds Foundation, JDRF, The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and The Fly A Kite Foundation. They money was raised through different fundraisers throughout the school year. Student council members presented giant checks to representatives from the organizations who graciously accepted and thanked the students for their generosity.

Wearing matching Walk-A-Thon T-shirts, students then gathered with their classes and made their way to the front of the school building after the ceremony. Students held banners for their classes as their peers, teachers, staff and family members made the journey through Hewlett Harbor.

“The Walk-A-Thon is all about getting everyone together to walk through the harbor for all of the organizations that we’ve raised awareness for,” said Student Council President Charlie Horton. “It feels amazing that we have the opportunity to help other people in need.”

 

Photo captions:

 

1) Student council member Lauren Comegna (left), Student Council Co-Adviser Shari Bowes (middle left) and student council member Raquelle Vainroob (right) presented a $400 check to Jena Murray from The Princess Deeds Foundation.

2) (L-R) Waverly Park fourth graders Jason Beard, Brandon Nicolas and Morgan Wit during the Walk-A-Thon.

 

Photos courtesy of the Lynbrook Union Free School District

Photo caption: Seven-year-old Dominick Chiuchiolo, a first grader at Tackan Elementary School in the Smithtown Central School District, is taking a literal stand against childhood cancer by running his own lemonade stand. In just one week, Chiuchiolo’s lemonade stand garnered $11,390 to support childhood cancer research. The “Lemonade Days of Summer” is a seven-day challenge to help benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. After finding out his mother is a childhood cancer survivor, Chiuchiolo set his initial goal to raise $8,000 in one month but far surpassed his expectations thanks to the support of his friends, family and local community.

 

Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District

On June 9, members of the Great Hollow Middle School boys lacrosse in the Smithtown Central School District delivered canned food donations, helped clean up and stocked the shelves at the Smithtown Food Pantry. The team members are pictured here with Patricia Westlake, director of the Smithtown Food Pantry.

 

Photo courtesy of Smithtown Central School District