Number of Participants: 300
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $10,140
Event Type: Veterans & Military Families
Sport: Schools
Date: February 14, 2024
Location:
Saw Mill Road Elementary School
Saw Mill Road, North Bellmore
NY
About:
February has been full of generosity at Saw Mill Road Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District. The student council spearheaded two initiatives – Valentine’s for Veterans and a Souper Bowl food drive.
Students in every class at Saw Mill Road made a card for a veteran with a personalized message of appreciation. Student council members helped by providing each class with construction paper and other supplies. Hundreds of completed cards were given to Congressmen Anthony D’Esposito’s office to distribute to veterans and active members of the military.
Every school in the district hosted a Souper Bowl food drive, and students were encouraged to donate canned goods and other nonperishable items. There were boxes for the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers and they could place donations in the box of representing the team they expected to win the big game.
At Saw Mill Road, fourth grade student council members made announcements to promote the Souper Bowl, while fifth graders added to the promotional effort by making about 20 signs to hang around the school. Sixth graders had the biggest task. They visited the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s Community Cupboard on Feb. 12 to sort and organize the donations from North Bellmore’s five elementary schools.
“It’s a happy feeling that you’re giving to people who need things,” Saw Mill Road sixth grader Dylan Korman said. “If there’s people that don’t really have food, we can give it to them.”
Kelly McDonough said that charitable service is contagious. Once people started putting food in the boxes, it encouraged more students to donate. Anaya Cadet and Ramin Atiq added that participating in service activities at a young age creates a lifelong mentality.
“It teaches us that it’s important to give to others and help our community,” Ramin said.
Photo captions:
1: The Saw Mill Road Elementary School student council spearheaded a Souper Bowl food drive, with donations going to the Community Cupboard.
2: Third graders showed some of the cards they made for the Valentines for Veterans initiative.
Photos courtesy of the North Bellmore School District