Community Buys Caps, Gowns, Yearbooks, Banners For Every Senior

GREENPORT, NY — Coronavirus has nothing on the love of the community who has put hearts and hands together to help make senior year special for Greenport High School's Class of 2020.

When the pandemic led to the closure of schools, seniors were left without the chance to make lifetime memories.

But "Porter Pride" is strong in Greenport and the community brainstormed to find ways to celebrate the hardworking seniors.

Joan Dinizio, assistant to Greenport High School Athletic Director Chris Golden, said she read on the "Let's Talk Village of Greenport" Facebook page about a school in the midwest that was creating banners for every graduating senior.

"I fell in love with the idea and when my cousin, Patty Hocker of PH Graphics, volunteered to do them for free, I just knew it had to be done," she said. She reached out on social media, asking for donations to make the vision a reality.

"The response has been phenomenal," Dinizio said.

So many contributed, Dinizio said, that there were some funds left over. Soon, the idea was born to help purchase not just the banners, but brackets, "Class of 2020" baseball caps, caps and gowns and even yearbooks for every student.

When asked if they'd want to fund those purchases, the community wholeheartedly agreed. And now, while the finish line is in sight, donations are still needed to bring the project to fruition.

Greenport, Dinizio said, has stepped up in a big way.

"There’s a phrase for that — to coin PTO President Kim Moore-Swann — 'Porter Pride,'" she said. "There’s nothing like it."

The seniors' plight touched a chord: "They have lost so much this year," Dinizio said. "The military ball, the robotics competition, the senior trip, Senior Skip Day, the senior breakfast, graduation. My heart is just breaking for them. I'm hoping this will give them something to smile about — they deserve it. They're such a great bunch of kids."

Dinizio said while she may have taken the idea and run with it, the project to celebrate the seniors would not have gained traction without Hocker's help, Greenport Village Trustee Mary Bess Phillip's assistance in acting as the liaison between the school and the village board— and without the "outpouring of love and generosity" from the people of Greenport.

“The words 'It takes a village' couldn’t be more appropriate than they are right now," Dinizio said. "This is the greatest community on God’s green earth, bar none."

Funds are still needed: "We are only $875 away from our goal of paying for caps, gowns and yearbooks for the Class of 2020," Dinizio said. "Please donate if you can. Every dollar counts. We can do this!"

Those who wish to donate can sent checks payable to Joan Dinizio at 39 Sound Road, Greenport, NY 11944, through PayPal to candeekisssess@aol.com, or via Venmo to pto@gufsd.org.