Students in the Seaford Middle School Service Club recently wrapped up a successful winter clothing drive, collecting dozens of donations.
The drive, which ran from Dec. 15 to Jan. 16, was organized to help Long Islanders stay warm during the winter. “There are so many people in need,” said Service Club President Ryan Kind, a Seaford Middle School eighth grader, “it’s important for us to give back to the community.”
Donations included new and gently used items such as coats, gloves, hats, pants, shoes and socks–will be given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Long Island. The Society was founded in 1948 and comprises 63 parish-based volunteer groups, two thrift stores, several parish-based food pantries, and a transitional housing program. It serves thousands of people annually through a myriad of direct services with the goal of helping people overcome hardship.
The Service Club, led by advisers Katheryn Hickey and Taryn Ohlmiller, organizes a range of community service efforts throughout the school year.
The clothing drive also aligned with the Seaford School District’s “Seaford Scholar” profile — a district initiative focused on developing character traits such as resilience, innovation and community-mindedness. In this case, the drive exemplified the trait of “networker,” as students encouraged peers to participate while collaborating with an outside organization.
The district’s Seaford Scholar Profile includes 10 key traits: risk taker, resilient, mindful, innovator, reflective, humorous, communicator, principled, flexible and networker — all of which students are encouraged to develop during their time in Seaford schools.
