Mineola High School hosted its fifth annual “MINNeola Macaroni Making a Difference” Community Pasta Dinner to benefit the Mary Brennan INN. The Inn, the largest soup kitchen on Long Island, serves over 400 lunches daily to its guests. Faculty, staff, students and their families donated all of the food, beverages and desserts served and students and faculty prepared and served the meal.

Residents from all over the community, including senior citizens, Junior Firefighters, sports teams and district students and families showed their support and generosity by attending the event held in the high school cafeteria. This year, volunteers served over 400 dinners and were able to raise more than $2,750.

In addition, many guests donated items, including towels, toiletries, clothing and canned food, which were given to the INN. As Executive Director of the INN Jean Kelly said as she thanked all the participants.

“Mineola is truly and caring and generous community, and the students and their families are leaders in the efforts to combat hunger and homelessness on Long Island,” she said.

Photos courtesy of the Mineola Union Free School District

Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. – Members of the Mercy College baseball team volunteered their time last week at the Food Bank for Westchester in Elmsford.

The student-athletes helped box bread and desserts before weighing the boxes and stacking them up so they could be given away. In total the team packaged over 45 crates and 23,000 pounds of food that will go to the less fortunate in the local community.

The initiative was started by the Mercy College accounting society and the baseball team led by senior Blake Coalla decided to add its contributions to the noble cause.

The underlying message from head coach Jason Lamando and the Mercy College baseball team throughout the experience was “you get what you give.”

“To be able to help especially as a group in any community is an opportunity we had today,” stated Lamando. “The Accounting Society and Mercy baseball really teamed up hitting not only a home run, but won the game of selflessness today.”

From a soup kitchen in Yonkers, to children at day care centers in Peekskill, to teenage mothers in Mount Vernon, or seniors having lunch at a residential facility in New Rochelle, the goal of The Food Bank for Westchester is to provide food assistance to those who need it.

Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.

Bridgeport, Conn. – The University of Bridgeport’s women’s lacrosse team has partnered with Hall Neighborhood House (HNH) to bring the sport to the youth of HNH.

Hall Neighborhood House was opened in 1886 by a group of women who wanted to start an organization that would help young migrant families adjust to their new life. The women offered job training and assistance in job placement in the Bridgeport community. In later years HNH opened a nursery and day-care services. In 1957 HNH expanded into what it is today. HNH has grown to serve the Greater Bridgeport-area and is a known leader in community service and engagement. HNH now offers programs in day-care, preschool, social services, youth and senior citizen programs, affordable housing, job training, performing arts, and recreation.

Thanks to a united effort from HNH youth services director Rachel Smith and US Lacrosse, HNH received a soft stick grant. This grant brought 30 soft sticks and balls to HNH.

Smith and Ally Howard, UB’s women’s lacrosse coach, have teamed up to bring the Purple Knights lacrosse team to HNH a few Saturdays a month to teach HNH’s youth the game. According to Smith, “The young people enjoy themselves every time UB comes.”

The interaction between HNH youth and the Purple Knights has had lasting effects on UB’s student-athletes as well. UB senior Meg Hughes stated “Working with these youth has given me a new appreciation for giving back to the community.”

UB lacrosse starts each day at HNH with some name games and bonding time. Next, everyone splits up in two groups, younger and older. Every UB student-athlete pairs up with an HNH participant. UB teaches passing, catching, picking up ground balls, shooting, and running with the lacrosse stick. Smith brings apples for snack time, teaching HNH’s youth healthy alternatives for snack time. Sessions end with gear donations from UB women’s lacrosse and everyone having the chance to win UB athletic gear.

The day ends with hugs and cheers, Smith’s favorite part was “Seeing all of the smiles on our youth faces.” Head Coach Howard commented “Seeing our student-athletes work with HNH’s youth has changed our team for the better. Working with Smith, these children, and our student-athletes has driven our program to seek more opportunities to work with Bridgeport’s underprivileged youth.”

Provided by the Bridgeport Sports Information Department.

Rocky Point School District’s baseball program continued their mission to give back to the community by once again volunteering at Maureen’s Haven Homeless Shelter in Cutchogue this spring.

The players, which included members of the varsity, junior varsity and middle school baseball teams, joined together with their coaches to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner for the homeless serviced by the shelter.
During their visit, the players spent hours setting up the location. They brought with them hundreds of food, toiletries and clothing items they had collected throughout the year and many homemade treats they created. Additionally, the teams donated more than 60 gift cards to provide additional meals for the needy.

Before completing their service, all of the student volunteers received praised from the shelter’s director for their kindness and generosity.

Photo Caption: Rocky Point School District baseball players volunteered at Maureen’s Haven Homeless Shelter in Cutchogue this spring.

Photo courtesy of the Rocky Point School District