With the help of generous community members, Islip High School’s Junior Chamber of Commerce Club recently collected 300 pairs of denim jeans to donate to the homeless, 20 more than the previous year. Islip joined the annual initiative in 2011 through DoSomething.org’s Teens for Jeans campaign.

“The number one item requested by people living in shelters is a pair of jeans, and for the past six years, the Junior Chamber of Commerce Club has committed to helping the homeless,” said club adviser Renee Clock. “This campaign allows teens to take a leadership role in our community by organizing and collecting jeans from family members, neighbors and local businesses. Our students inspire each other to be socially responsible by developing compassion to those in need.”

The Town of Islip Youth Bureau, Islip American Legion Rusy-Bohm Post 411, Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi and Kennedy L.I. Realty again helped to spread the word about the jeans collection. Melanie Holz, the prevention coordinator at Youth Enrichment Services, spoke to students in the club regarding the importance of community initiatives that enrich the lives of others, before she assisted Clock and teacher Dennis Wickes in delivering the jeans to the United Veterans Beacon House.

“It’s always a positive when we help those in need,” said Holz.

Photo Caption: Islip High School’s Junior Chamber of Commerce Club collected 300 pairs of denim jeans to donate to the homeless via the Teens for Jeans campaign.

Photos courtesy of the Islip School District

Thanks to the generosity of the Bronxville Elementary School community, who collected 242 pajamas, children in need will have warm, comforting pajamas to change into before the night descends.

The school held its pajama drive over two weeks in support of the Pajama Program, a national charity that provides new pajamas and books to children who often live under difficult circumstances such as shelters, group homes and foster care. Members of the Student Council, a group of fourth- and-fifth-graders who encourage students to engage in their local community to make it a better place, took on the leadership role of collecting and folding the pajamas.

“The pajama drive is for a really good cause,” said Maggie, a fifth-grader and member of the Student Council. “All of the pajamas are donated to [children] who aren’t as fortunate. It’s really important to help others because thinking about yourself all the time isn’t great, and it feels good to give back.”

Students, who were introduced to the Pajama Program during a schoolwide Be3 assembly, said they recognized the importance of helping other children and letting them know that someone cares about them and wants them to feel cozy and warm at night.
The school’s Be3 program – which ensures that each student at Bronxville thrives in a positive learning environment – teaches students to be safe, responsible and respectful to one another outside of their classrooms.

To learn more about The Pajama Program, visit www.pajamaprogram.org.

Photo Captions: Bronxville Elementary School students collected new pajamas for children in need.

Photos courtesy of the Bronxville Union Free School District

Elwood-John H. Glenn High School students banded together for an evening of healthy competition during the school’s annual Volleyball-a-thon on March 16. The event raised $3,380, which will be donated to the Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo Sergeants Benevolent Association for Widows & Children’s Fund for NYC, the Sean Urda Memorial Soccer Scholarship Fund and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

This year, 48 teams of students participated in the tournament in the school gymnasium. Each team had t-shirts made and came up with a creative name for their group. Throughout the event, those in attendance were encouraged to sign three posters made for a senior at the high school who was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Students shared their best wishes and words of encouragement.

Each team competed on one of the four volleyball courts until one team was crowned the winner. The winning team proved to be “Jokes of 2016.”

Photo Captions: Members of the team “Berto Once Said” at Elwood’s Volleyball-a-thon.

Berner Middle School students may not have looked like they put much effort into their wardrobes on March 22, but by wearing their pajamas to school they raised awareness for an important cause.

In addition to donning their nighttime attire during the day, students donated new sets of pajamas for infants, children and teenagers. The collection supported Jake’s Jammies, an initiative of the Ashley Wade Foundation, which was founded by a former Massapequa student. The organization supports children and teens who are chronically ill and gives them a new pair of pajamas each time they enter the hospital.

Members of Chiefs Challenge, a character education club, went around to classrooms collecting pajamas during homeroom. They also accepted monetary donations which will be used to buy more pajamas. A donation box was also placed near the main entrance.
The mission of Chiefs Challenge is to create a positive school climate through the six pillars of character — caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness. Students build a sense of social responsibility and empathy through the club’s various charitable initiatives.

Photo Captions:
Students dropped donations into a collection bin by the school entrance.

Photos courtesy of Massapequa School District