School Supply Drive Held for Kids in Need

With school starting again, kids and parents are thrown into the excitement of preparing for their new classes, new teachers, and new experiences. However, this time of year also brings anxiety for some, as back-to-school shopping means long lists of supplies and accessories to facilitate proper learning that can be rather pricey. In a struggling economy, many parents have trouble meeting these needs, and are often at a loss when it comes to stocking up on the variety of materials schools expect children to have.

Many low-income families had their prayers answered, when Huntington Hospital's Dolan Family Health Center held a school supply drive for 125 patient families.

"When you look at what they need, it's very costly, especially when you have more than one child," said Theresa Jacobellis, Director of Public Affairs at Huntington Hospital. "They have just about everything they need here."

The center, located on Pulaski Road in Greenlawn, is a primary care center for under and uninsured members of the community, including families from Greenlawn, Huntington, Huntington Station, and Melville, to name a few. In addition to immunizations and back-to-school physicals, for the past five years the center has given away school supplies to patients of the health center during visits. Last year, they decided to upgrade the casual giveaways to an official school supply drive.

"In the past five years, it was more informal … for these last two we tried to formalize it," said Kathy Giffuni, RN Manager at the Dolan Center. "We've been collecting supplies pretty much throughout the month of August. I know a lot of the staff went out shopping."

The acquisition of supplies was made possible by donations from community members, staff, volunteers, Astoria Federal Bank, and by a fundraiser at Applebees, where on certain days 10 percent of checks were donated.

At the drive, long tables were set up in stations with trendy backpacks, spiral and marble notebooks, folders, regular and colored pencils, and a variety of other materials students might need throughout the school year.

"It's kind of cool that they have it set up like they're actually shopping," Jacobellis mused. "The kids get really excited."

Each child was able to "shop" with a member of the health center or volunteer staff, who helped them pick out what they needed for the upcoming school year. Supplies were sought out according to the respective generic K-12 list determined by the Huntington School District, but if a child had his or her own personal list, those need were met too.

"The drive is absolutely helpful," said Melville resident Trish McHales, a mother of three. She added that her children all face the same demand for classroom and homework provisions. "It's a relief when people are so amazingly generous and helpful."

After explaining her financial situation, involving food stamps, Medicaid, and using up the equity on her house, McHales continued, "At least now I don't have to go out and buy all of this!"

McHales' husband, Patrick, is a survivor of the attacks of 9/11. The tragedy did not only force him to find a new job, which he lost three years ago, but left him scarred with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which she said makes working difficult. Currently, McHales explained the family has no income.

"Thank God for things like this," McHales said. "We can survive."

The eager chatter from children and relieved faces of parents made it apparent that all were grateful for the drive and its plethora of supplies. Likewise, the Dolan Family Health Center staff had good reason to appear pleased and animated.

"The kids enjoy it, and it helps the community," said medical assistant Carmen Montero. "I get excited for it every year."