Finley Honor Society is Energetic
They're not only smart, they're energetic, too. Members of the J. Taylor Finley Middle School honor society have been busy pursuing various community service related activities this winter.
Society members spent several weeks in December collecting dozens of new toys that were later donated to Toys of Hope. The organization in turn distributed the items to needy children across Long Island. The project spurred the entire Finley school community to get involved and contribution toys.
Brian Hanson, director of operations for Toys of Hope "was very grateful and invited the honor society to visit the organization's facilities to see the operation firsthand," said Phyllis Sadusky, a Finley teacher who serves as the honor society's faculty advisor along with colleague Amy Hughes. "We hope to visit sometime in the spring." Toys of Hope is located at 167 E. 2nd Street in Huntington Station.
In January, honor society members made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the homeless. Students made 300 sandwiches, packaged and delivered them to Pronto of Long Island, an outreach center dedicated to helping those in need.
"Our members had a great time after school preparing the sandwiches for donation," Mrs. Sadusky said.
This month, the Finley honor society is involved with the "Pennies for Patients" initiative of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. "'Pennies for Patients" is a service learning program in which kids collect spare change and extra dollars to help local patients battling blood cancers," Mrs. Sandusky explained. Boxes have been placed in every Finley homeroom class, as well as other key locations around the school.
Once again, the honor society has mobilized the entire school. "Honor society members are visiting homerooms and various locations throughout the school each day to promote awareness and encourage participation," Mrs. Sadusky said. CD's designed to motivate and educate students about the "Pennies for Patients" program are being shown during lunch periods at the school.
In March, society members will get behind "Hoops for Heart," an American Heart Association fundraising activity. It will be open to all students on March 29-30. "We would love to see everyone get involved," Mrs. Sadusky said.