Number of Participants: 5
Hours Donated: 20
Value of Time Served: $845
Event Type: Veterans & Military Families
Sport: Team
Date: February 15, 2018
Location:
Island Park
NY, USA
About:
A humble, close-knit group of students at Island Park’s Lincoln Orens Middle School is making a big impact locally, regionally and even overseas. The Builders Club, sponsored by the Island Park Kiwanis, shares a passion for helping others and is dedicated to organizing and executing charitable initiatives throughout the school year.
The club, advised by teacher Karen Davis, is comprised of 12 students in grades 5-7. Each week it conducts official meetings that follow a structure similar to those of the Kiwanis. At the start of the school year, participants developed a schedule of fundraising efforts for each month.
Prior to the holidays, the Builders Club sent handmade holiday cards to the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a New York National Guard unit that works in direct partnership with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and is stationed in Yavoriv, Ukraine. Lieutenant Colonel Padraic Lilly, father of Lincoln Orens sixth-grade student Kirsten Lilly, expressed gratitude to the group on behalf of his team.
“We still have the cards displayed in our office, and we read them to each other all the time,” Lt. Col. Lilly said. “It really has an impact on our mood.” He noted that his team is also working alongside British, Canadian, Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian soldiers, and all appreciate the thought and effort that went into creating the cards.
Another recent event conducted by the club was a Cocoa for Cancer event. Members sold cocoa for $1 during lunch periods on Jan. 31 and raised more than $300. This year, the students chose to support NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Cancer Center for Kids, where one of their peers was treated for cancer as a young child. They are using the proceeds to purchase crafts, stickers and other items for get-well bags, with the hope of bringing comfort to patients.
The students are currently involved in a Have a Heart initiative, collecting pet supplies to help animals in need. They are also planning a book drive to support Kamp Kiwanis, a sleep away summer camp experience with an emphasis on teambuilding and good character, for deserving children within the community.
The Builders Club and Island Park Kiwanis take many opportunities to connect each school year. On Jan. 11, the two organizations came together for a thank-you dinner at Jack’s Pizzeria. The students and adults spent time discussing their missions and learning about each other’s endeavors. Now, they are gearing up for a joint Pancake Breakfast that will raise funds to send children to Kamp Kiwanis. The event will be held on Sunday, April 15 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Fireman’s Exempt Hall in Island Park.
“It’s a pleasure working with so many caring and dedicated children who want to help people and make a positive difference in the lives of others,” said Ms. Davis. “They’re all very special kids!”
Photo Captions:
1: The Builders Club and Island Park Kiwanis came together for a thank-you dinner at Jack’s Pizzeria.
2: Builders Club members sold cocoa for $1 during lunch periods and raised more than $300 for NYU Winthrop Hospital’s Cancer Center for Kids.
3: The 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a New York National Guard unit that works in direct partnership with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, sent their thanks to the Builders Club for their holiday card delivery.
Photos courtesy of Island Park Public Schools