Massapequa Ames Students Spread Goodwill

Students from the Massapequa High School Ames Campus stepped out of the classroom and into the kitchen for a few hours on Nov. 25 to help bake desserts families at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park.

Upon arriving, the students, who are all members of the Helping Hands Club, received a tour of the facility, where families stay while a child is undergoing medical treatment at a nearby hospital. They also learned about the many services the Ronald McDonald House offers and how it is fully supported from donations and volunteers.

The students, who were accompanied by advisers Nicole Reiss and Tara Camilleri, then worked in the kitchen to bake brownies, cookies, crumb cake and cupcakes for the families. Ninth grader Sophia Diaz, who helped make the brownies, said it was her first time there and she gained perspective on the positive impact that volunteer service can have on the lives of others.

Emma Mastroberti said she understands that the families staying there are dealing with difficult situations and it is important to be there for them. Fellow Helping Hands member Amelia Caselnova explained that it was nice to see people of all ages giving their time and was appreciative that her school provided her with an opportunity to contribute.

“It was good to see how people care about others,” she said. “It was a great experience and I definitely would do it again.”