There’s a lot of generous giving going on across the South Huntington School District as we look forward to Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Every one of our schools has a Thanksgiving activity or collection going on that’s meant to help families in our community while getting students involved in acts of kindness that teach generosity and compassion.

At Countrywood Primary Center students have been asked to bring in a $1.00 cash donation, along with a slice of pie artwork sharing what they’re thankful for. The cash donation will go toward the purchase of supermarket gift cards for our Countrywood families experiencing financial hardship. The slice of pie art will become part of a school-wide “thankful” pie banner. Families can also donate to the gift card initiative through the fundraising platform Givebutter at givebutter.com/CWthanks2023. The donation and gift card drive at Countrywood continues through November 17th.

Tommy the Turkey has arrived at Oakwood Primary Center! In partnership with the Oakwood PTA, students have been asked to help decorate Tommy the Turkey’s feathers. In addition to decorating feathers, cash donations in any amount are being collected to help families in need for Thanksgiving. Along with their decorated feathers, families can send in cash in an envelope labeled “Tommy the Turkey” to their child’s teacher. Oakwood will be distributing gift cards to families in need for Thanksgiving as well as use any remaining money to help families during the December holidays. Donations can also be made online at givebutter.com/2023OakwoodHolidaysCollection.

At Birchwood Intermediate School, students have been challenged to complete a Holiday High Five - that’s five acts of kindness at home - after which, parents/guardians are being asked to reward their child with a $5 donation for the holiday drive. Lesser amounts are also accepted. Birchwood is also partnering with the Wildcat Cares Food Pantry at Walt Whitman High School by accepting donations of non-perishable food items. They’ll also be distributing gift cards to needy South Huntington families. Donations to Birchwood’s holiday fundraiser can also be made online through Givebutter at givebutter.com/BWFoodDrive. Birchwood will be collecting food and cash donations through November 17th.

Maplewood Intermediate School is holding its “Dollar for the Holidays” fundraiser, challenging each class to raise a minimum of $25 (about a dollar per student) to help make the holidays brighter for some South Huntington families. In addition to cash, food store gift cards will be greatly appreciated, as well as online donations at givebutter.com/MaplewoodHolidays2023. Maplewood will be accepting donations through November 17th.

At Silas Wood Sixth Grade Center, homerooms have been collecting specific food items that will be part of a Thanksgiving Box to be given to a South Huntington family in need. Each box will contain a starch (pasta, mac-n-cheese, rice); a dessert (cake mix and frosting, jello or pudding); a side (cornbread mix, stuffing, instant potatoes, cranberry sauce); and canned goods (gravy, green beans, mixed veggies, corn, yams, tomato sauce). For each completed box, homerooms get a raffle ticket giving them the chance to win the grand prize of a bowling trip. The more boxes, the more raffle tickets - and a better chance of winning! The Silas Wood food drive ends on Friday, November, 17th.

Stimson Middle School just wrapped up another year of its successful Penny Wars competition which brings in lots of food donations and money. This year the homeroom vs. homeroom battle raised $3,395 and brought in 4,595 donated food plus thousands of hygiene items. Money is being donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the food and hygiene items are going to South Huntington’s Wildcat Cares Food Pantry at Walt Whitman High School and St. Hugh’s outreach program. Stimson is continuing its food drive effort by also raising donations online at GiveButter Stimson Thanksgiving Food Drive.

At Walt Whitman High School, the Wildcat Cares Food Pantry is nicely stocked thanks to the recent food donations from Penny Wars and Birchwood, plus two local Boy Scout troops, and the ongoing support from Stop & Shop. Any student/family in the South Huntington School District is eligible to receive a food package from Wildcat Cares. All you need to do is put in a request. To request a food package, to donate, or if you have any questions, please email wildcatcares@shufsd.org.

Thank you to all our South Huntington students and their families, our staff and faculty for all the generous support, and showing what the true meaning of Thanksgiving and our spirit of community is all about.