Northport Elementary Students Raise $570 For Local Businesses

NORTHPORT, NY — Students of Northport's Fifth Avenue Elementary raised $571 for The Takeout Project during their Leadership Club's Kindness Challenge, according to the school district. The students sold Valentine’s Day masks to raise money for local businesses.

The Takeout Project was introduced by Dr. Barbara Bolen, a member of the Northport Chamber of Commerce. Residents are asked to purchase restaurant gift cards which will then be distributed by local food pantries.

The Kindness Challenge, which benefitted The Takeout Project, was a weeklong event encouraging students to perform as many acts of kindness as possible. When students were asked to return their checklist of kind acts, they included a $1 donation for The Takeout Project. Students performed acts like greeting the crossing guard and making cards for lunch aids.

Second-grader Leah Kropp gave out five compliments and "made a wish for another child in another country" because she "hoped students in other countries would be safe from COVID-19." Leadership Club students also made cards and bookmarks for residents of Atria Senior Living.

Following up on this challenge, the students in the Leadership Club then organized
the sale of Valentine’s Day masks, which further generated support for the initiative. The
Takeout Project launched last year when the pandemic began taking a toll on local businesses. The project uses donations to purchase gift cards to struggling local businesses which are then given to families in need.

Fifth Avenue Leadership Advisors Michele Maldari and Virginia Fitzsimmons stated that "all students reported that accepting and completing the Kindness Challenge made them feel good about themselves."