Holiday Event Focuses On Giving Back To Children

NORTH MERRICK, NY — An annual holiday event resumed at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School.

The Bellmore Lions' Club teamed with the Community Cupboard and the district for the Polar Express for children in the community.

The school communities collected toy and gift card donations, while the CHAMP (culinary arts and hospitality) program baked and decorated 500 cookies for the Dec. 4 event.

Nina Lanci, Lions previous district governor, has chaired the event for the past seven years.

"There are families who were struggling in our area before the pandemic just to put food on their table every day, and now, with so many families hit hard by COVID, this event has become even more important," Lanci said in a statement. "This day also gives their parents, many who are now out of work or others who are working two and three jobs just to support their family, the components necessary to make their child’s holiday a happy one. You can’t put a dollar amount on that."