As Thanksgiving nears, East Meadow High School’s Key Club wrapped up one of its most impactful weekends of service, collecting hundreds of food items during its annual fall food drive outside ShopRite in Uniondale on Saturday and Sunday.
Students spent both days stationed outside the store from morning until early afternoon encouraging shoppers to donate goods for neighbors in need. The effort, run in partnership with the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow, drew strong participation from the community — and from the roughly 150 Key Club members who volunteered their time.
Annabel Yee, the Key Club’s president, helped lead students in the effort throughout the weekend.
“It gives students an opportunity to show up — not just to volunteer, but also experience the community,” she said. “It’s really not too hard to get that many volunteers, because everyone is always really eager to help out, which is very exciting to see.”
Yee’s advisor, Catherine Razzano, who chairs Kiwanis’ food drives, said working with students brings its own rewards.
“Annabel was extremely shy when I first met her,” she said. “She has brought the Key Club to an electronic age, which is amazing.”
This fall’s drive will support 118 families, Razzano said, underscoring the value of community involvement during just a few concentrated days of service.
“It’s paramount that, while our youth get involved, our entire community gets involved in just a few days of service,” she said.
The drive was particularly vital this year as households continue to face food insecurities, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which was put on pause in early November. Although SNAP funding has been restored, delays caused by the federal government shutdown left many families in limbo. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 39 percent of SNAP recipients are under age 18.
“All of the proceeds here are going to families who might have even less resources this year because the government is in gridlock,” Yee explained. “It’s extra important that people try to donate if they can, whether it’s food or money, so we can really help those that are experiencing hardship even worse than years prior.”
Each year, the Kiwanis Club holds drives in the spring and the fall — with proceeds benefiting local food pantries. Volunteers collect sealed non-perishables, cooking ingredients and gift cards to purchase fresh items, such as dairy, meat and vegetables. The goal is to supply each family in need with at least three bags of food.
Following the Key Club’s food drive, students will sort the donations at the high school, assemble and deliver the packages to local households.
The busy month of giving will conclude with the Kiwanis Club’s Frank Saracino Memorial Senior and Military Dinner at the high school on Sunday.
“This is one of our biggest weekends of giving in support of our community,” Donna Goldstein, Kiwanis Club president, said. “We touch everyone, from senior citizens to the military, to our families in our schools.”
The dinner, featuring live entertainment and a Thanksgiving meal, will offer an opportunity to celebrate and hear from members of East Meadow’s older adult community.
“We’re a very big community organization,” Goldstein said. “It is important to us, in the season of giving, to help as many people as we can.”
Last year’s drive set records for food and monetary donations, including enough funds to provide 55 gift cards to purchase perishable goods. Kiwanis supplemented the effort with an additional 100 gift cards, supporting more than 150 households.
For details on upcoming programs held by the Kiwanis Club, or ways to contribute, visit k03823.site.kiwanis.org.
