Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island’s back-to-school supply drive

The Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club made a contribution to help children in need earlier this month as they prepared for the new school year, donating to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island’s back-to-school supply drive.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a youth mentoring program that pairs adult volunteers with children.

Comfort Itoka, who chairs the Rotary Club’s Project Committee, and club member Michael Horowitz offered insights into the impetus behind the donation and their experiences working with BBBSLI.

In early August, the club received an email from Heather Bowen-Leaver a board member at BBBSLI, about the supply drive. Recognizing the importance of such initiatives, especially those that align with their mission of fostering literacy and education, the club quickly decided to get involved.

As Itoka explained, “In Rotary, we believe in partnership. If we are made aware of a project that is worthwhile, we partner with the organization that is sponsoring that project.”

The need for school supplies among children in underserved communities became a priority for the club, but given the tight timeline, members opted to make a $500 donation instead of purchasing supplies themselves.

On Aug, 13, Itoka and Horowitz visited the BBBSLI office at 25 Carle Road in Westbury, and presented a check to Meredith Michaels, the organization’s chief development and marketing officer, and Bowen-Leaver.

“They were very pleased, sent us a thank-you letter, and also reminded us to always keep in mind that Big Brother Big Sisters have several other projects,” Itoka said, adding that she was willing to volunteer for future BBBSLI projects, emphasizing Rotary’s commitment to long-term community support.

“Their vision is that all youth facing adversity achieve their full potential, regardless of life circumstances,” she noted of Big Brothers Big Sisters, adding that this aligns with Rotary’s goals.

The donation was just one of the initiatives the club has undertaken recently. It also took part in the Trimz Barbershop Cutz for Edu event on Aug. 24 (see accompanying story).

Itoka underscored the importance of partnerships and community involvement in addressing local needs. “In partnership, you learned from one another,” she said, “and the partner can bring something (to) the table that you do not have.”

“We are so grateful for (the Rotary’s) generous gift of a $500 gift card,” Michaels wrote in a thank-you letter, “in support of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Long Island back-to-school drive and our mission to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.”

“Our vision at BBBSLI is that all youth facing adversity achieve their full potential, regardless of life circumstances,” Michaels added. “(The Rotary’s) gift will help us change the course of young lives, which in turn can alter the course of a community’s future.”

BBBSLI is the largest youth-mentoring program on Long Island. Over the past 40 years, it has matched more than 15,000 at-risk children and teens with adult mentors. The consistent and caring presence of an adult in a child’s life can be a powerful influence, the organizations has proven over and over, helping them stay in school, make healthy choices, avoid risky behaviors, and reach their full potential