Blankets, books and more go to Nassau University Medical Center

The East Meadow School District’s PTA Council brought books, blankets, toys and more to the Nassau University Medical Center last week, delivering a little bit of holiday spirit to kids in need this holiday season.

New and unwrapped donations of baby and children’s toys, books for teens and blankets were delivered by Tracy Rudd, president of the PTA Council and Donna Goldstein. The donations were given to staff members Michele Silvestri and Heather Spanfelner of the hospital’s therapeutic recreation services. All that was donated was to be distributed to children and teens of all ages.

Rudd said the PTA Council — which involves every school within the East Meadow School District — has been holding this drive for around 10 years now.

“It evolved from just a simple blanket and book collection to incorporating for all ages,” Rudd said, “with everything from rattles to cars and everything in between.”

The drive is called the Books, Blankets and Toy Drive, because its meant to inspire warmth and comfort during the holidays.

“A long time ago my son was in the hospital for an emergency surgery,” Rudd added, “and we got to pick a book, and then came the comfort of the blanket. So its sort of evolved, and its been continuous for the last 10 years under give presidents.”

Each school in East Meadow, which includes five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools, has its own PTA as well as a SEPTA. Each of these units contributed to the drive this year.

“We couldn’t do it without the support of our community,” Goldstein said. “We put it up on Facebook, and the Amazon list took off. A lot of people’s names, who I don’t even know, just sent stuff. They were very generous.”