In a season of giving during tough economic times, the students at New Hyde Park Memorial High School this year surpassed the high bar they set for charity in past years.
The school’s more than 1,700 students this year collected 3,000 ponds of canned food in a month for the annual Students Feeding Students food drive organized by Island Harvest,
Over the past years, New Hyde Park Memorial students have come in second among all high schools on Long Island in the drive, collecting between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds of canned foods each year.
“It’s kind of nice to know we had such an impact,” said Christine Vosswinkel-Blum, director of student activities.
The school’s efforts was led by the student council under the guidance of faculty advisors Erin Esposito, Kevin Kowalczyk.
Among the efforts was handing out flyers to collect cans of food outside the newly opened King Kullen supermarket in Garden City Park, according to Vosswinkel-Blum.
Last week, members of the high school Key Club delivered Christmas packages for 12 needy families in the area, in cooperation with the county Department of Social Services, which screens the families and provides detailed lists of clothing needs with sizes specified. The Key Club is the junior counterpart to the local Kiwanis
Those who participated in the food drive said the experience gave them a new perspective.
“You go into the homes to drop off the presents and you see no signs of decorations. You realize that without these presents, they wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas or Hanukkah the way we do,” said Nicholas Viviano, lieutenant governor of the Long Island North division of the Key Club.
The toys collected in this years toy drive, also in collaboration with Nassau County Social Services were delivered last Friday.
Two other drives, Coats for Kids, a coat collection for young and adult sizes, and Purses for Love, a collection drive for used pocketbooks and wallets, also drew strong support from the students at New Hyde Park Memorial. More than 50 coats were donated this year.
“It was just an overwhelming outpouring this year,” Vosswinkel-Bllum said.
New High Park Memorial principal Michael DeMartino said the compassion the students show is part of the environment.
“It’s part of the culture at the high school. We have a great bunch of students,” DeMartino said.
Vosswinkel-Blum said the success of the food drives was a result of the 70-member Key Club, with faculty advisor Lisa Bocchino, and the student council getting their respective messages out to a “phenomenally responsive” student body.
“The culture of our student body and faculty is a very sympathetic culture and aware of these trying times. It’s very endearing,” Vosswinkel-Blum said.
For the past several years, DeMartino has been reading “words of wisdom” every morning, concluding with the phrase, “Make it a great day or not – it’s your choice.”
That has been the starting point for a character-building program that includes monthly classroom presentations by members of the high school guidance staff on themes such as responsibility.
DeMartino credits the school’s faculty with setting a powerful example for their students to follow.
The faculty does a great job with these kids, They’re role models for these students. They set the tone for these kids. We’ve really got a good thing going here,” he said.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204
