Number of Participants: 85
Hours Donated: 4
Value of Time Served: $2,873
Event Type: Hunger
Sport: Schools
Date: February 27, 2018
Location:
Lakeside Elementary School
Babylon Road, Merrick
NY
About:
As part of their annual service learning project, approximately 85 sixth-graders, along with staff from Levy Lakeside School in Merrick, dedicated time during their day to make and pack more than 3,000 cold cut sandwiches to feed families in need. The sandwiches were donated to the River Fund, a mobile food pantry that fights hunger in dozens of New York City neighborhoods.
For a little more than an hour, the 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 and bread cold cuts and bread for the sandwiches. The Lakeside PTA chipped in with 100 pounds of cold cuts as well. Local businesses also stepped up, as Stop and Shop donated 210 loaves of bread, 250 pounds of cold cuts, zip lock baggies, 24 cases of chips and a pallet of water. Hey! Cookie donated 46 dozen large chocolate chip cookies, while Spiga Bakery, Suburbia Prime Meats, Town Bagel and Wonder Bread also made significant contributions to the cause.
According to sixth-grade teacher and project coordinator Susan Molloy, the idea was born seven years ago from a single Lakeside student who wanted to do something special for the homeless on her birthday. Other Lakeside students heard about the effort and were inspired to help out.
“Given the size of the school’s student body, we decided to create our own ‘Sandwichathon’ project,” said Molloy. “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: With contributions from local businesses and families, 85 Levy Lakeside sixth-graders made more than 3,000 sandwiches for families in need.
Photo courtesy of the Merrick School District
