Herricks elementary and middle school students have come together to show their support for the Ukraine people by coordinating food, clothing and medical supply drives as well as sending encouraging messages of hope.
Two March-inspired events organized and led by Herricks students included the Denton Avenue Elementary donation drive to aid the people of Ukraine and the Kids4Ukraine community efforts in conjunction with the Shelter Rock Library initiated by Herricks sixth-grader, Neil Chen.
The Denton Avenue Elementary drive started at the beginning of March and ran through March 15. The elementary school promoted their event in school with posters designed by the students. The early March efforts were organized by the Denton Avenue Student Council along with their adviser Mrs. Roulett and the school’s Human Relations Club, along with their advisor Mrs. Manning. The student families donated food, clothing and medical supplies that filled two truckloads. Students sorted and packed the items that were delivered to St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church in Riverhead.
The second event, a community-wide collection to assist humanitarian relief for Ukraine took place on March 26 at the Shelter Rock Library organized by Kids4Ukraine, started by Herricks middle school student, Neil Chen. The sixth-grader had the idea of spreading awareness to school-aged children about the situation in Ukraine and promoted his idea through social media and a partnership with the library.
Chen’s vision resulted in the collection of hundreds of medical supply items such as first aid kits, ibuprofen, antibacterial ointments, creams, gauzes, gloves, medical tapes, and walkers during the one day, two-and-a-half-hour collection window at the library. Additionally, several Herricks elementary and middle school students along with their parents volunteered their time sorting, packing, and loading the collected medical supplies to be delivered to St. Josaphat’s Monastery in Glen Cove.
Both drives were organized by Herricks students and supported by the Herricks community. St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Church and St. Josaphat’s Monastery were grateful for the outpouring of generosity in support of the people of Ukraine.
