McVey's mighty kind way to help out

Elementary school's food pantry open through the summer

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Volunteers at McVey Elementary School, in East Meadow, have converted its gym into a food and supplies pantry that has been serving local families that have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Principal Kerry Dunne launched the pantry, dubbed the McVey Mighty Kind Market, in May, after seeing a need in the community, she said. Amanda Napolitano, a permanent substitute teacher at the school, volunteered to oversee it.

As Napolitano gave the Herald a tour of the pantry on Monday, a family arrived with two grocery bags full of donations. Napolitano added them to a stack of bags and boxes full of food and other supplies. “This is just what came in this morning,” she said.

Many students have asked friends and family members to make donations to the pantry in lieu of gifts for their birthday, Napolitano said. Others have held their own fundraisers, like lemonade stands. And others have donated by breaking their piggy banks, in some cases literally.

Sienna Reyes, 11, just graduated from McVey. Her sister, Emily, 8, will start second grade in September. The two filled their piggy banks with birthday and holiday gifts over the course of the school year. A couple of months ago they emptied them, and went shopping for supplies for the pantry at Stew Leonard’s in East Meadow.

On June 27, the Reyes sisters and their mother, Susete, also held a garage sale and set up a lemonade stand for the cause, raising an additional $500. “We’ve lived in East Meadow for eight years, and love the community and doing things to help out,” Susete said.

Members of East Meadow Boy Scout Troop 362, led by Scoutmaster Andy Lindow, have also been collecting donations, and Eagle Scouts James Surless Jr. and Matt Harrison have spearheaded the effort. “They come in with tons of food every week,” Dunne said. “We have a kindness theme at our school, and we have really seen it come through with the pantry. It’s unbelievable.”

Teachers have also gotten involved, and some have paid for large Costco deliveries, Dunne added.

“We couldn’t do it without the community and all the support staff,” Napolitano said, also thanking the custodians and security personnel who continue working at McVey through the summer to make sure the pantry runs smoothly.

The Mighty Kind Market is open every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will remain open during those hours until September, when its hours will be determined.

Although it was established because of the pandemic, Dunne said she hoped to continue stocking it and serving residents. “This is something that the community depends on,” she said.

Each Friday, it draws roughly 100 families. While school was in session, it was open two days a week, and drew twice as many people. Dunne hypothesized that other efforts to feed families in Nassau County families have reduced the number that rely on McVey. For example, Island Harvest hosted a countywide food-distribution effort at Nassau Coliseum on July 2.

Members of the McVey Parent Teacher Association and other volunteers have offered updates on the pantry on social media, letting residents know when it is in need of supplies. Those who have questions or would like to donate can contact Dunne at kdunne@emufsd.us