Merrick Ave., legion aid troops overseas

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District and Merrick American Legion Post No. 1282 have worked together in recent months to give back in a big way.

The school district and legion recently sent more than 40 care packages to troops overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. School district employees and students began by collecting enough supplies to fill nine boxes. Merrick Avenue Middle School teacher Kristen Fusaro's eighth-grade class then extended the effort, and with the help of Tom Riordan of the legion, the students collected even more supplies from administrators, clerical staff and their peers. In the end, they gathered enough supplies to fill 40 boxes.

The packages, consisting of items such as socks, wipes, candies, shaving items and other personal gear, were sent to soldiers from Merrick, Wantagh and Bellmore who are now in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fusaro teaches “Great Lives,” a course designed to build character in children through community-service projects. During the holidays, they undertake projects that show compassion.

Four years ago, the students came up with the idea to send packages to troops overseas, said Fusaro. To make it happen, she contacted the Merrick American Legion to inquire about local residents who are serving overseas. Riordan already knew of two Merrick residents, and he was able to obtain the address of a Marine lieutenant from North Bellmore and a soldier from Wantagh. Together, they sent the care packages and have done the project every year since.

“It’s grown exponentially every year,” Fusaro said.

The class began collecting supplies at Thanksgiving, and they mailed them on Dec. 10, arriving in Afghanistan in less than a week. Since then, Fusaro has received letters from the soldiers thanking the students for the packages.

"I think it gets to [the students] more than anything they could do in the classroom,” Fusaro said. “It helps them connect to” the troops.

Postage for the packages cost $500, which was paid for by Holm’s Service Station in Merrick, the Merrick Car Wash and the Merrick American Legion.

Riordan, a Merrick resident for 40 years, was a Marine during the Korean War era, and has been associated with the American Legion for 25 years. Formerly, he was commander of the Bellmore American Legion, but switched to Merrick 15 years ago. At the time, the Merrick post comprised 13 members. Today, it has more than 160.

For more on the legion, call (516) 521-6989.

Comments about this story? DWeingrad@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.