Students Collect 241 Pounds of Back-to-School Supplies for LI Cares

Six Smithtown students are making sure every child has notebooks, pencils and folders in their backpack for their first day of school. 

Over the last three weeks, fifth- and sixth-graders have hit the Brook Lane neighborhood of Smithtown seeking donations of various school supplies for Long Island Cares' School Tools program in Hauppauge. 

"Sending a child to school at the beginning of the school year with new supplies relays the message that school is important and imparts a sense of pride in the process and ultimately, themselves," read a flyer advertising the fundraiser. "However, not every family has the means to provide such basic items." 

Jason Corvi, Brendan Hickey, Aidan McKee, Jack Rainey, TJ Smith, Christian Thorasen each passed out 50 flyers inviting residents to drop off backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, planner, crayons, folders and more to 27 Brook Lane. 

More than 241 pounds of supplies and food donations were dropped off to Long Island Cares on Tuesday. 

"I could not believe the  shelves were empty at Long Island Cares," said Stacy McKee, Aiden's mother. "It was nice that they took time to give back to the community. I think it touched them as they were given a tour of Long Island Cares.

These supplies will be given out to children and families in need through the Hauppauge Food Bank as needed.