Giving Back in a Tasteful Way

Plainview, N.Y. — H.B. Mattlin Middle School in the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District will host its first ever virtual food drive. Mattlin students are creating hunger awareness posters, flyers, and videos promoting the drive. This community service activity will start on December 1, 2020 and run until December 23, 2020. The food drive is in partnership with The Rudman Family Food Pantry, an organization the District has worked with in past years for the semi-annual 7th grade trips to the food pantry.

“I’m thrilled that we can provide our students with a way to give back to the community in a safe way,” said Dr. Mary O’Meara, Superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District. “Our students always enjoy giving back to the community, and it’s wonderful to see that our teachers were able to think of an alternative and creative way to have our students continue that tradition.”

“The students will create their own flyers and post them on social media giving the students a chance to be leaders and advocates for change in their communities,” said Susan Epstein, family and consumer science teacher at Mattlin Middle School and organizer of the virtual drive.

This initiative will inspire and educate students on the local issue of hunger on Long Island. Students are encouraged to use social media as a tool to promote the innovative virtual food drive this year. Students will also create survival gift bags for the seniors that are homebound due to the pandemic, which will be serviced by the Rudman Food Pantry. These gift bags will include handmade mask chains, jam, crackers, tea and more.

To donate to BE THE CHANGE--Virtual Mattlin Middle School Food Drive for The Rudman Food Pantry at the Mid-Island Y JCC, please visit https://yougivegoods.com/be-the-change. To donate, click on SHOP NOW to purchase the goods you would like to donate. Donors will be emailed a tax receipt at the time of purchase. All goods ordered online will be shipped directly to the charity partner after the drive ends.

For more information about the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District, please visit the District’s website at www.pobschools.org. Happenings in the District can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pobschools.