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Key Club food drive hits home Students, neighbors embrace giving something and helping out with the community.” Key Club President Mia The Kiwanis Club of Want- Spiteri concurred in a written agh has supported the educa- statement: “Key club shows students that small acts of service tion and personal growth of young people for over 70 years. can create real change.” Key Club offers students a The generous group provides supplies to students in the unique opportunity to engage spring and camp activities in in community service. One of the summer — but it is the holi- K i w a n i s d iv i s i o n s g e a re d day season that features its towards younger participants; the Key Club takes most ambitious high school stuprojects. dents and g rants The season of t h e m r e a l - wo rl d giving started early experience in leadat Wantagh’s King ership and responKullen. On Nov. 15, sibility. Wa n t a g h H i g h Kiwanis Club School’s Key Club members gathered member Heidi Felix to take nonperishserves as the Key JEVANgElIA able donations to Club liaison. She will restock local DITRoIA has been actively food pantries for Wantagh High School i nvo l ve d i n t h e t h o s e s u f f e r i n g Key Club member community for from hunger. about 25 years. Key Club Mem“A b i g re a s o n ber Evangelia DiTroia, a junior why I do what I do is to instill at Wantagh High School, col- that love of community, the lected donations during the ability to help and support othfood drive. Her peers handed ers when they’re in need,” she out flyers, bagged donations said. “We help and support and prepared them to be deliv- every time that we can to help ered to community pantries. our Wantagh community.” “A lot of people have been Felix is also a member of the coming and they’ve been par- Church of St. Jude Mission ticipating,” she said. “For my Center, one of the food pantries peers, it makes us happy, and it that benefitted from the drive. makes us feel like we’re doing
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo
jdalessandro@liherald.com
Courtesy Wantagh School District
Wantagh Middle School eighth-grader Ava Vitucci, left, and Sophia McManamon colored Thanksgiving images at the top of their letters.
Students bring cheer, messages, meals to homebound residents By DANIEl oFFNER Special to the Herald
Wantagh Middle School students are helping to spread some holiday cheer to homebound residents this Thanksgiving by writing touching letters to accompany meals delivered across Long Island. The school’s librarian, Amelia Weber, spearheaded the project by inviting students and faculty to help pen hundreds of heartfelt messages for older adults, disabled and financially struggling residents who often spend the holiday alone. “I have gotten a mountain of cards and letters so far,” Weber said. “I’ve probably got about 300, and I’m going to get more.” The idea stemmed from a tradition her parents, John and Melinda Alford, began more than 30 years ago when they owned J.B.’s Pub on Old Country Road on the Garden City–Mineola border. Each Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, the couple served free meals to anyone in need. Even after their restaurant closed in 2001, they continued the effort from home, gathering volunteers to cook and
deliver meals to residents unable to travel. “My parents decided, ‘if we can’t have people in need come to us, why not go to them?’” Weber said. The volunteer network has since grown, drawing cooks, drivers and donors from across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Each holiday, volunteers prepare and deliver hot meals, desserts, drinks and hand-decorated bags — and the letters inside are always a favorite for recipients. “Everybody comments on the cards and letters that they receive as the most special,” Weber said. Weber introduced the letter-writing program to Wantagh Middle School in 2015. After running it for three years, she paused the effort due to the pandemic and because she was raising her three young children. Now in her 11th year at the school, she has revived the program and emailed teachers inviting their classes to participate. Many teachers have already volunteered, and Weber also has welcomed students into the library during lunch periods to write a note. She said she expects to collect more ConTinued on pAge 7
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t makes us feel like we’re doing something.
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