Birch School Students Pack Food Drive Donations

MERRICK, NY. — The Birch School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club participated this November in what is fast becoming a tradition at the school: A food drive, collecting donations to support the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s food pantry, Community Cupboard. The donations, district officials said, will help a food pantry that serves almost 100 families per-week.

Located in the Brookside Administrative Building at 1260 Meadowbrook Road in North Merrick, Community Cupboard gives students the opportunity to volunteer on Tuesdays, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-in assistance is available on Thursday afternoons, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to district materials. This is the third year in a row that the SADD club has organized donations around Thanksgiving.

For SADD faculty advisor Jarrod Alexander, a social worker in the district, the food drive is a chance to teach kids valuable lessons at an important time of the year.

“It’s all about giving back and supporting our community,” Alexander said. “And about showing these kids how they can help families in need.”

Students collected donations of nonperishable food, gift cards and the supplies needed to pack the donations for delivery. On Nov. 24, Birch School students delivered packages stuffed-to-the-brim with items, including treats such as Reese’s peanut butter cups and Lay’s potato chips, to staples such as salad dressing and stovetop stuffing, to Community Cupboard.