Massapequa Students Build Community Service Records

From Massapequa School District: The Builders Club at Berner Middle School in the Massapequa School District gives students the opportunity to perform meaningful community service and learn how to become good citizens.

A club that started small in 2009 has grown to record numbers with more than 70 students attending the first meeting of the year afterschool on Oct. 6. They received their member pins, recited the membership pledge and received information packets about the club. The group is affiliated with the Massapequa Kiwanis Club, which also sponsors the Massapequa High School Key Club. In October, the Builders Club will collect money for UNICEF. Students will be asked to wear a costume to school on Halloween and donate $1. Club members will assist Kiwanians in setting up the Field of Honor, a large display of American flags to commemorate Veterans Day, on the front lawn of Berner on Nov. 4.

The club advisers are social studies teacher Noreen Miller and Kiwanis representative Diane Plowman. They explained that the goal is for students to come up with ideas for community service projects and “make it their club.” Past activities have included coat, blanket, food and toy drives.

The Berner Middle School chapter of Builders has received the Distinguished Club patch every year since its inception for the high level of service that students have performed. Ms. Plowman said that she expects another successful year because
of the large participation. “I joined the club because I wanted to help my community out,” said chapter President Krista Garguilo, an eighth-grader. “A least one person can benefit from everything that we do.”

Added eighth-grader Damien Liebob, the club secretary, “It’s an amazing club and with many new people this is going to be a great year.”

Image Courtesy of Massapequa School District