Number of Participants: 75
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $2,535
Event Type: Hunger
Sport: Schools
Date: February 21, 2019
Location:
Lakeside Elementary School
Babylon Road, Merrick
NY
About:
As part of their annual service learning project, approximately 75 sixth-graders, along with staff from Levy Lakeside School in Merrick, dedicated time during their day to prepare and pack more than 3,000 cold cut sandwiches and over 550 packs of cookies to feed families in need. The food was donated to the River Fund, a mobile food pantry that supports dozens of New York City neighborhoods. During the eighth-annual school Sandwichathon, Lakeside cafeteria resembled an assembly line of focused, philanthropic scholars and staff hustling to get these sandwiches ready for distribution. But it wasn’t just the sweat and manpower that they provided. Students and staff themselves donated turkey, cheese, ham, cold cuts and bread for the sandwiches. Local businesses also stepped up, particularly Stop & Shop of Merrick, which donated a large pallet of water, as well as cold cuts, bread, chips, muffins and sandwich bags for 1,500 lunches. Hey!cookie of Jericho, which donated 840 cookies, Spiga Bakery of Bellmore, Valentino Food Market of Queens and Wonder Bread also made big contributions. According to sixth-grade teacher and project coordinator Susan Molloy, a single Lakeside student came up with idea for the Sandwichathon because she wanted to do something special for the homeless on her birthday. Other Lakeside students heard about her idea and were inspired to help out, leading to a tradition that has fed thousands of homeless people. “Given the size of the school’s student body, we decided to create our own Sandwichathon project,” Molloy said. “Each year the effort grows and donations increase, giving more of our students the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.”
Photo caption 1: Lakeside School students and staff prepared over 3,000 sandwiches and more for the River Fund food pantry.
Photo caption 2: Lakeside School’s cafeteria resembled an assembly line during this year’s Sandwichathon.
Photos courtesy of the Merrick School District