Rockville Centre residents organize a back to school collection

Every child should feel the joy of new supplies to start the school year, and thanks to St. Agnes parishioners and the Express, a Rockville Centre U-12 soccer team, many local students will begin this academic year knowing that there are generous and caring people who helped get their school year off to a great start.

This was the ninth annual school supply drive, which began as a Silver Award Project for Girl Scout Troop 823. Over the years, the Boy Scouts of Troop 163 and the Parish Youth Group have also helped with the collection, which is distributed to needy families in the community through the St. Agnes Parish Outreach Center.

This year, with the help of parent Nancy Rodriguez, the Express, which is coached by Tommy McNicholas and Amy Sherlock, collected supplies and gift cards to donate. Then, several compassionate middle school students , Allison Palazzola, at left in the photo above, Meredith Nothel, Rebecca Buchman and Alexander Maher gave up part of their summer vacation to carry, sort and carefully arrange the donations.

“During these tough economic times, the parishioners of St Agnes and community members responded with tremendous generosity to our annual school supply drive,” said Eileen Burke Bucaria who has coordinated the drive since it began. “Although our collection was down this year, we are very thankful for all the supplies, backpacks, gift certificates and cash donations that will go so far toward giving the children of our community a wonderful back–to-school feeling.”

Donations are still being accepted at the St Agnes Parish Outreach Center, in the Parish Ministries Building on Quealy Place.