Smithtown Town Council members, along with the Town Clerk, Highway Superintendent and the Receiver of Taxes presented a collection of back to school supplies for disadvantaged children yesterday to the Smithtown Children’s Foundation. Eight boxes were packed to the brim with brand new backpacks, notebooks, binders, rulers, pens and pencils, creative arts supplies and daily planners. The donations were accepted by Christine Fitzgerald of the Smithtown Children’s Foundation at Tuesday afternoon’s Board Meeting in Town Hall.
“We were thrilled to get the call that the Town wanted to help out with back to school supplies. We have some very generous people living here in Smithtown. That generosity from our own neighbors will go directly from their hearts to impact a local child who may have a sick family member or have fallen on hard times in such an exceptional manner… So I thank you from the bottom of my heart.” – Christine Fitzgerald
The Smithtown Children’s Foundation will work with various social workers to distribute the school supplies and backpacks to transient families, kids with family members who have terminal illnesses, and the less fortunate, so that they may start the school year on a positive note.
“No child should ever feel singled out or nervous that he or she is not prepared for the new school year. We had no doubt that our incredible residents and staff would come through for our young generations. On day one, we had to get bigger boxes… on day two we had to find storage space for all the supplies that were overflowing. Working with a local non-profit like the Smithtown Children’s Foundation was a fantastic opportunity to change lives for the better right here in our backyard.” – Supervisor Ed Wehrheim
In less than ten days, the School Supply Drive collected enough backpacks, lunch boxes and various school supplies to help approximately 50 children. Three drop off locations were set up in St. James, Smithtown and Kings Park at Town Hall, Smithtown Department of Highways and the Smithtown Parks Department. A second option to order school supplies online and have them shipped to the Town Clerk’s and Town Council’s offices was also available. While every department’s staff members gave items to the collection, members of the Highway, MSF, and Parks Departments went especially above and beyond. Additionally, the Town Clerk’s office staff packed up backpacks loaded with a notebook, folders, rulers, pencils and crayons for elementary students.