Hauppauge CAN Donate It!

Motivated by their High School’s community service requirement, Hauppauge sophomores decided they wanted to do something to make a difference by holding a food drive for Island Harvest. The Hauppauge students who participated in this initiative were: Andrew Crecca, Daniel Harris, Jacob Hug, Danny LoPiccolo, Robert Podmore, Justin Rutley, Anthony Salvia, Nick Sellitto and Kevin Wrobleski.

Andrew Crecca took the lead in organizing the event and engaging eight of his friends to participate. ShopRite and Trader Joes donated shopping bags to the students to get the ball rolling. The students placed notes requesting food and/or personal care items into the shopping bags and distributed them to the homes of their friends and neighbor. They reached out for assistance to almost the entire Hauppauge School District community by the time they were done distributing the shopping bags.

“Our initial expectation for donations was on the conservative side,” stated Crecca. “We only went out with a wagon to collect the shopping bags.” To their complete amazement, their friends and neighbors had filled the shopping bags to the brim, and some even had as many as four bags at their homes waiting for pick-up. The students then had to incorporate cars to collect the donations, which totaled 1,393 pounds and filled up five SUVs/trucks!

The students believe that it is really important to help people on Long Island because “we don’t realize how many hungry people there are out there. This food drive was totally community based – Long Islanders helping Long Islanders.” The students are looking forward to continuing their support and also to engaging more people to support Island Harvest’s critical initiative to help Long Islanders in need going forward.

Pines Elementary School CAN Help

The Hauppauge community also demonstrated their unwavering support to those who are less fortunate through the Pines CAN Help event. “The Pines families donated more than 1,470 household items for the Long Island Cares Harry Chapin Food Bank through this initiative,” stated Pines Elementary School Principal Dr. Claudine DiMuzio. “Teachers Steve Chmela and Cristina Barbieri extend their sincere thanks to all of their students for their contributions as well as for participating in the walking/jogging event. Way to go PINES!!!!”