Saw Mill students spread holiday cheer to Afghanistan

For certain North Bellmore students, holiday charity began after Halloween and will continue into the New Year. The impact of their efforts has been just as widespread –– all the way to Afghanistan.

With the help of a local parent, students at Saw Mill Road Elementary School collected and sent hundreds of pounds of candy to military personnel stationed overseas to kick off the holiday season. Now the school community is collecting much-needed supplies for the troops in the hope that they will be delivered by New Year’s Day.

Assistant Principal Denise Fisher said students began bringing in candy they received or had leftover after Halloween for this “Candy for Troops” drive. She said a parent of four children spearheaded the initiative.

Jerry Harrington, whose youngest daughter, Alexandra, and son, Ryan, go to the school, explained that he had helped organize similar collections when his eldest daughter, Ashley, attended the former Jacob Gunther Elementary School. He explained that all of his children –– including Samantha, an 11-year old with cerebral palsy who is wheelchair-bound –– have done this type of charity work before and enjoy giving back to military personnel.

“The children were very excited to give their Halloween candy to the troops that were serving overseas,” he said. “The troops really appreciated that the children were thinking about them during the holidays –– it definitely brightens up their day.”

Harrington is having the children’s donations sent overseas through his job with Atlas Air, a cargo and passenger airline that is contracted by the military to carry supplies to air-mobility command stations around the world. The last time that North Bellmore students took part in the “Candy for Troops” initiative, treats were sent to Al Udeid Airbase in Qatar and Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

This year, Saw Mill students and parents collected about 250 pounds – or nine boxes –– for troops in Bagram. Fisher included a card in each box. Harrington said the candy was packaged on Nov. 25 and arrived in Afghanistan on Thanksgiving morning.

Harrington said he thinks this project taught the children a valuable lesson. “I think the children learned a lot about giving –– not just to the troops, but to others who are not as lucky or fortunate as we are,” he said.

Saw Mill students are now collecting gifts of body wash and shaving cream, in addition to creating holiday cards for soldiers. Harrington explained that his contacts overseas said these hygiene supplies were what troops needed most. He said he hopes to have them shipped so that they arrive in Afghanistan on New Year’s Day.