One nickel at a time, students at the John Dinkelmeyer Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District are making a difference in the world. The children are collecting empty water bottles to raise money for various charities.
The school is supporting a different cause each month. In February, students collected 4,000 bottles and donated $200 to the Ronald McDonald House. The March charity is the March of Dimes, an organization that benefitted Dinkelmeyer fifth-graders Lily Rubino and Hannah Rubino when they were infants. The girls were part of a group of fifth- and sixth-graders who presented at a schoolwide assembly on March 2. The students talked about the importance of charity, which is a key part of the district’s mission statement, and encouraged their classmates to bring in water bottles and even soda cans from home.
To mark Autism Awareness Month in April, the school will donate to Sensory Beans, a local indoor play space for children with disabilities. In May, money will go to the Moebius Syndrome Foundation, which helps children suffering from the craniofacial neurological disorder that can lead to facial paralysis. Principal Faith Skelos said a teacher’s grandchild suffers from the disorder, and many of the school’s charity choices are based upon personal connections within the school.
Sixth-grader Justin Segrete said he was inspired to support these charitable acts because he is a strong believer of the mantra, “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Fifth-grader Leah Smith added that she hopes Dinkelmeyer’s acts of kindness and generosity can start a bigger movement.
“The world can become better because everyone is going to start seeing what we’re doing,” she said.
The initiative is sponsored by the school’s Shared Decision Making Team and led by teachers Lori Alduino and Lauren Saccone.
“The students are so invested in this,” Ms. Saccone said. “They feel good to do good for others, and they are seeing that they can make a difference. There’s a lot of compassionate people in this school, and it’s infectious.”
Photo caption: A group of fifth- and sixth-graders at John Dinkelmeyer Elementary School are spearheading the collection of empty water bottles to raise money for various charities.
Photo courtesy of North Bellmore Public Schools
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