Barnum Woods School Helps Island Park Elementary School

East Meadow’s Barnum Woods Elementary School was recognized by Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School in Island Park for its donation of more than $18,000 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 23. The ceremony acknowledged the new playground that the generous donation helped to build.

The devastating 2012 storm flooded Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School with four feet of water, causing severe damage to the building and playground and forcing students and teachers to relocate to the middle school building for the remainder of the academic year.

After witnessing the destruction, East Meadow students held multiple fundraisers aimed at raising $5,000 to help Island Park students and teachers return to their classrooms. With the support of the East Meadow community, family, friends and faculty, Barnum Woods exceeded its fundraising goal by $13,200.

“By helping those in need, we enrich ourselves,” said Barnum Woods Principal Gregory Bottari. “I am blown away by the generosity, kindness, collaboration, perseverance and citizenship that the Barnum Woods community exhibited in assisting teachers, students and families of Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School to return to their classrooms.”

Photos: East Meadow School District.