The Valley Stream Kiwanis Club recently completed a community service initiative supporting local veterans who visit the Long Island Cares West Nassau Center for Food Assistance and Community Support on Rockaway Avenue.
The project was organized after club members learned that Long Island Cares had opened a Valley Stream location last year and offers weekly hours dedicated specifically to veterans and service members through its “Military Appreciation Tuesdays.”
“They gave us a list of items that are in high demand and hard to keep in stock and we went to work,” Kiwanis Club President Tina Castelluzzo said.
In response, the Kiwanis Club coordinated a collection drive across multiple local sites, placing donation bins in the lobbies of all schools within the Valley Stream Central High School District as well as in the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library and Uniondale Public Library.
Community members contributed a range of personal care items, including shampoo, soap, toothpaste and other toiletries. After the collection period, Kiwanis volunteers sorted the donations and assembled 88 individual care packages for veterans who use the pantry.
Staff at the site expressed strong appreciation for the contribution, noting the meaningful support it provides to veterans who rely on the Tuesday program.
“We wanted to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Veterans, whose bravery, selflessness and dedication inspire us all,” Castelluzzo said.
The project reflects an ongoing effort by the Kiwanis Club to partner with local organizations and direct volunteer activities toward unmet community needs. By coordinating with Long Island Cares and local public institutions, the club aimed to strengthen the resources available to veterans in the region and increase awareness of the services provided at the Valley Stream location.
