\
Fifth and sixth grade Student Council members at Chatterton School in the Merrick Union Free School District learn about community service throughout the school year, but perhaps the most impactful lesson is when it hits closest to home.
This Thanksgiving season, students organized and publicized a food drive to benefit 16 Merrick families. On Nov. 22, they gathered during their lunch period to fill boxes that were later personally delivered to homes by school staff. The identities of the families were kept confidential for privacy reasons.
“I like being able to help people,” noted Elise, a sixth grader and the Student Council president.
Sixth grade teacher Laura Bonet serves as a faculty adviser, along with co-teacher Lindsay Zender and school social worker, Marisa Taddeo.
“We have had an overwhelming response of students who want to join the group, so we have opened up more meeting sessions in order to accommodate all of those interested in helping,” Bonet explained.
Principal Dana Bermas said this is an annual effort, make possible in part by the donations of Lakeside students and their families.
Bonet said the Student Council group spoke about the importance of serving others while organizing the drive.
“We talked about helping the school community and connected that to helping the local community and then the global community in effort to address the impact community service can have,” Bonet explained.
Photo captions:
- Sixth grader Kari organized donation items during the Nov. 22 packing volunteer event.
- Sixth grader James helped carry full boxes of donations.
- Sixth grader Elise discussed how to best package the donations with school social worker, Marisa Taddeo.
- Jackson carefully chose items for a curated Thanksgiving donation box.
- Some of the Student Council members with school social worker, Marisa Taddeo, sixth grade teacher and co-adviser Laura Bonet, Principal Dana Bermas, and co-adviser Lindsay Zender.
Photos courtesy of the Merrick Union Free School District
Leave a Reply