Pass The Pen: Wantagh Middle Schoolers Write Letters To Thanksgiving Meal Recipients

WANTAGH, NY — Wantagh Middle School Librarian Amelia Weber has watched her parents deliver meals to disabled and elderly Long Islanders on Thanksgiving for the past 30 years. At a time when many Americans look forward to turkey, macaroni and cheese or a slice of their favorite pie, Weber said the people her parents deliver meals to have started looking forward to an item in the box that they can’t eat: letters from Wantagh Middle School students.

The letters serve as a way for Wantagh students to issue season’s greetings to people they’ve never met. In those letters, kids introduce themselves to the person receiving a meal, wish them a happy Thanksgiving and holiday season, and tell them about what they’re learning in school.

This year, Weber said she expects over 300 letters to be written by the middle of November. While many students have already written letters in class, Weber also accepts letters from students during lunch periods, submitted in the school library.

“It makes me really happy that I get to spread cheer to other people,” eighth grader Emily Tepper said. “It’s very important because maybe some people are less fortunate around the holiday, and this might make them feel love on the inside.”

Tepper’s classmate Tommy Tsempelis described Thanksgiving as, “a time to be happy,” and wished his letter recipient a happy, healthy celebration. District officials said eighth grader Chloe Kuhn felt grateful for the opportunity to spread some holiday joy.

While Wantagh is one of three Nassau districts contributing letters this year, Weber said the important part isn’t where the letters come from, but what they mean to the people who receive them.

“Because of the students, hundreds of people on Thanksgiving will have beautiful
letters to read,” she said. “It’s something to brighten their day and to let them know they’re
not truly alone.”