Helping those in need is something Wantagh students across the district have been engaged in as early as elementary school. Each year before Thanksgiving, students participate in various charitable activities reminding them of the importance of helping those less fortunate in the Wantagh community and beyond.

Wantagh Middle School Student Council hosted a Thanksgiving Drive where advisories were asked to submit a bag of requested items including a turkey, canned vegetables, potatoes or sweet potatoes, stuffing or rice, gravy, cranberry sauce, dessert mixes, soup, and paper tablecloths or centerpieces. For their service, each advisory will earn raffle tickets for a chance to win a prize. 

At Wantagh High School, community service is paired with a little friendly competition between classes where each graduating class is asked to bring an assortment of donated items to be donated to Long Island Cares who will then collect the items for distribution across Long Island.

The Helping Hands Food Pantry housed at Wantagh Elementary helped students learn how to organize the food pantry fostering team work and helping their community. Members of the Student Council prepped food boxes from the pantry which are available and can be delivered to your home or picked up. For more information, please email Ms. Furci at furcil@wantaghschools.org. 

Third graders helped pack donated items with the Mandalay Elementary Student Council who also collected food for the Helping Hands Food Pantry. Each grade was assigned two items to collect for the pantry. By the end of the collection, the pantry was stocked with condiments, dressing, soups, sauces, pasta, rice, grains, cereal, breakfast bars, and more.

Forest Lake Elementary held a Thanksgiving Harvest Drive inviting each student and family to donate a monetary gift or drop off non-perishable items in the school lobby during the first three weeks of November. Monetary gifts would be used to purchase Stop & Shop gift cards. Students collected delicious items such as pasta, sauce, beans, rice, coffee, fruits, vegetables, canned meats, oatmeal, drinks, spices, and more.

Wantagh Middle School's The BEST Club hosted their annual Coat Drive this month. All donations went to the Coats for Kids organization run by Assemblyman David Mcdonough’s office. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing cause!