W.T. Clarke students give back to babies in need

Over the last few months, students in East Meadow schools have formed a community service partnership with Love Nana, an organization based in Rockville Centre, that creates bundles of baby items that are donated to young mothers and families in need throughout the local community.

Two classes of special education students at W.T. Clarke High School have led efforts to collect dozens of new and gently used baby clothes and accessories. While the collection has mostly been concentrated to the high school and W.T. Clarke Middle School, it has received district wide attention from community members looking to make a difference in the lives of others.

Jen Sobieski and Kerrie D’Angelone, secondary special education teachers in Clarke High School, told the Herald that in their life skills classrooms — which teach students with special needs between the ages of 14 and 21 — students take part in a lot of vocational programming.

Sobieski has worked with Backyard Players & Friends, the organization that oversees Love Nana’s efforts over the last few years. Backyard Players & Friends is an inclusive arts-based program that gives its participants a space to share ideas and experience joy and creativity. It is also based in Rockville Centre.

The organizations are located on North Long Beach Road. Backyard Players & Friends also operates Front Porch Market, which is a storefront operated by people with disabilities. It serves as a space to celebrate neurodiverse entrepreneurs.

Through Sobieski’s relationship with Backyard Players & Friends, Clarke’s students began volunteering at Love Nana during the school day.

“We go there once a month for about two hours,” D’Angelone said, “and help with laundry and make baby bundles. They were looking for more baby donations, specifically boy and girl clothing for infants.”

The teachers began discussing ways to help Love Nana in the Clarke community, and came up with the idea of holding a baby clothing and accessory drive in November. By January, the drive was up and running — and still ongoing today.

“That’s how the inspiration came to be, it can be hit or miss with donations there,” Sobieski said. “We were happy to do the drive.”

Students in their classes led efforts to spread the word about the collection.

“There was a lot of promotion,” Sobieski said. “Students created fliers, and they made announcement, for the purpose of the baby bundles, which they always enjoy doing.”

Mostly clothing has been donated, the teachers said, for young children up to 24-months old. People can also donate small toys and books for babies, and accessories like hats, socks and booties for infants. All items donated can either be new or gently used.

Donation bins have been set up around Clarke High School and Middle School, but word about the drive was also spread via email to the entire district. Parents of students who are part of the Special Education Parent Teacher Association have also sent information out, and the teachers said the bins in Clarke are often overflowing with items.

When the students volunteer at Love Nana during the school year they build life skills, Sobieksi said. They work the laundry and folding stations, and sort clothes based on things like gender and size. Each baby bundle the students create has 8 to 10 outfits, books, blankets, toys and shoes.

“For families in need,” Sobieski said, “it’s a great start to have that clothing.”

The drive will run through May, which will be the last time the class goes to volunteer at Love Nana this school year.

D’Angelone said she feels their students really get a lot of working at Love Nana, and running the drive.

“It shows them that they are contributing to a greater need in their community while they are getting vocation skills,” she said. “Along with vocational skills, they know these are going to babies in need. Putting together a complete product, and giving it to somebody, will bring them joy — and fulfill a need.”