Islip Students Write 251 'Heartwarming' Letters to Make-A-Wish Org

ISLIP, NY — Several students at an Islip elementary school recently used their language skills to help others.

Classes at Commack Road Elementary School in Islip recently wrote 251 letters to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, continuing an annual school wide project run by English as a New Language (ENL) teacher Meghan Finnerty.

In their messages, the students shared who they would like to help, how they could help and why they wanted to help the people they wrote about, the district said.

Finnerty’s mother and fellow teacher Mary Bauernfeind began the letter-writing campaign over a decade ago at the district’s Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School. Finnerty then brought the tradition to Islip Middle School and later, to Commack Road, a release said.

“The kids do not write the letters about themselves, but rather for others that they want to help such as a family member, their community or those in need,” said Finnerty. “This project allows students to feel heard when they take informed action on how they can make a difference at any age.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a non-profit organization founded that helps fulfill the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of 2 and a half and 18 years old.

“Our students are kindhearted and thoughtful, and these letters were so heartwarming,” said teacher Cait Baldyga.