Several members of the Valley Stream Teachers’ Association banded together on May 27 to prepare and serve homemade meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Long Island in New Hyde Park.
About 15 teachers and union members from Valley Stream’s four school districts volunteered their time through the association’s public relations committee to cook dinner for families whose children are receiving medical treatment at nearby Cohen Children’s Medical Center.
The teachers’ association is the labor union and professional organization representing more than 1,100 educators and school staff in Valley Stream Districts 13, 24, 30 and the central high school district.
James Fischman, the association’s public relations board chair and a fifth grade teacher at Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School in District 24, said the effort grew out of the union’s recent focus on increasing community outreach and charitable work.
Discussions about additional service projects began after the organization recently donated items to the Orzac Rehabilitation Center at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital.
“We’re always looking for more opportunities,” Fischman said. “So, for the next opportunity, I said, ‘How about we do this? This would be something nice.’ It’s not in Valley Stream, but it does help kids all over Long Island and in New York.”
For Fischman, the mission also carried personal meaning. He recalled previous experiences with family members receiving care near the facility and seeing firsthand the emotional toll hospital stays can take on parents and children. He said providing a meal may seem simple, but it removes one burden for families navigating difficult medical situations.
The volunteers prepared a full dinner that included chicken parmesan, chicken tenders for children, pasta with marinara and vodka sauces, prepared potatoes, salad, bread and desserts.
The group intentionally included foods for both adults and children to create a comforting experience for families returning from long days at the hospital.
Krista Kinirons, a fifth grade teacher at Brooklyn Avenue School in District 24, said she was motivated to participate after a family member recently stayed at the Ronald McDonald House while their newborn received treatment in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cohen Children’s.
“They had a wonderful time, despite all, and they didn’t have to worry about food or laundry or any of that,” Kinirons said. “All of that was handled for them as they came back and forth. It just took a lot of stress away for them.”
Noelle Villa, the association’s president and a math academic intervention services teacher at Willow Road Elementary School in District 13, said the volunteer effort reflects educators’ broader responsibility to serve as role models for students and strengthen community connections.
“In the life of a school-aged child, such a great part of their day is spent in school,” Villa said. “By the time they get home after school, have dinner, do homework, spend a little bit of time with their families, that school is their home during the week. I think it’s our responsibility as teachers to be good role models and to show students that there are always possibilities to serve.”
Villa added that the event also helped foster relationships among educators from the four Valley Stream districts who may not normally work together.
Ronald McDonald House Long Island officials said volunteer groups play a critical role in supporting families whose children are hospitalized.
Janae Kae, the organization’s corporate and community partnership manager, said it provides lodging, meals and other support services for families dealing with pediatric illnesses, accidents and neonatal intensive care stays.
The New Hyde Park house features 42 bedrooms in its 50,000-square-foot facility, allowing families to stay close to their children during treatment. Kae said the organization also relies heavily on volunteers and community partnerships to provide daily meals and other services.
“It’s amazing to see an organization like the Valley Stream Teachers’ Association,” Kae said. “They are four districts, 14 schools. Just seeing them from all different schools, teaching all different ages, come together for us is really great. Schools are the backbones of our community.”
This year marks Ronald McDonald House Long Island’s 40th anniversary, opening in 1986 and serving families from Long Island, New York City and beyond. According to Kae, families have traveled from other states and countries, including Lithuania and the Dominican Republic, to receive care and stay at the house.
Matthew Campo, the group’s chief executive officer, said its mission centers on helping families focus on their child’s health by easing non-medical burdens such as housing, meals and transportation.
Campo, who has led the organization for more than 17 years, said the nonprofit has expanded beyond the New Hyde Park house to include family rooms at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and plans for a new 30-bedroom house near Stony Brook.
He said volunteer groups like the teachers’ association are essential to the organization’s daily operations and demonstrate the strength of community support across Long Island.
“The thing that comes to mind is gratitude,” Campo said. “When I think about their involvement here, it really does take a village to help an organization of this size run efficiently every single day. So, we turn to the community. There’s no one writing us a blank check at the end of the day.”
Throughout the evening, teachers worked side by side in the kitchen, preparing trays of food for families arriving back from the hospital. For the association, the event was less about recognition and more about showing compassion through service.
Fischman said community involvement does not require a large organization or donation. He encouraged residents to volunteer their time however they can, adding that even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference for families facing difficult circumstances.
To learn more about the Ronald McDonald House Long Island or how to get involved, visit ronaldmcdonaldhouseli.org.
