Thursday, October 1, 2026
When a last-minute cancellation left an open dinner slot at the Ronald McDonald House, the Valley Stream Kiwanis Club didn’t hesitate to act.
Within hours, members mobilized to ensure that families with hospitalized children would not go without a warm meal. The effort involved coordination between club members and local supporters, highlighting both the club’s ongoing community service work and its connections with area businesses.
Ronald McDonald House reached out to the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center when the originally scheduled group was unable to provide dinner on Oct. 11. The Kiwanis Club of Valley Stream received a call for help through that network. According to club president Tina Castelluzzo, when the request came, there was no uncertainty to step up.
“My club was all in,” Castelluzzo said. “We prepared dinner for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald house last year and had decided to make it an annual event, so there was no hesitation on our part.”
This year, with fewer volunteers than before, the club opted to order food instead of cooking on-site. Castelluzzo reached out to AP Pizza & Cafe, explained the situation, and asked if the business might be willing to contribute garlic knots and to-go containers. The restaurant agreed to help. Club supporters Joe and Nydia Corace then stepped in to provide dessert, rounding out the meal with cupcakes. Members of the club delivered the food, prepared the trays and packaged the meals so families could easily pick them up after long days spent at the hospital with their children.
“To be able to bring a glimmer of brightness, a helping hand, a smiling face, and a warm meal to these families who are going through so much is priceless,” Castelluzzo said.
For membership coordinator Milagros Vicente, the experience was straightforward but meaningful. The group has done similar volunteer dinners before, and this time, they adapted their approach to making it work with fewer hands. She described how Ronald McDonald House provides all the necessary equipment and kitchen access, which makes it easier for volunteers to focus on serving the families. The club arranged and displayed the meals so families could help themselves at their convenience, making the experience as simple and comforting as possible.
Both Castelluzzo and Vicente emphasized that supporting organizations like the Ronald McDonald House aligns closely with Kiwanis’s mission. Service is central to the Kiwanis organization, locally and globally. For the Valley Stream chapter, this means focusing on community projects that benefit children and families, whether through scholarships, youth leadership programs or direct service.
“Seeing the faces of people when we volunteer and seeing their faces of how grateful they are, that’s rewarding in itself, right?” Vicente said. “I believe that it doesn’t really matter how many people are involved in something, but the quality of it is what matters the most.”
Throughout the year, the club sponsors Key Clubs and Builders Clubs at several local schools, funds scholarships and supports students’ participation in conventions. The club also runs community projects, from collecting personal care items for veterans to stocking Little Free Libraries at schools and hosting awareness events.
Vicente explained that being part of Kiwanis is about collective community action. She views the club as a group of people who come together to give back in many different ways, whether through direct volunteer work, fundraising drives or support for other organizations. Castelluzzo emphasized the same point when describing why the club responded so quickly to Ronald McDonald House’s request: service is what the organization is built on.
Local business involvement is also a crucial piece of that service. Castelluzzo noted how support from places like AP Pizza & Cafe allows the club to stretch its resources further. Whether businesses donate food, supplies or gift cards, those contributions help the club direct more funding toward community programs.
For both Castelluzzo and Vicente, being involved with Kiwanis carries personal meaning. Castelluzzo, who has been part of the club since it was re-chartered in 2018, said her greatest source of pride comes from the club’s role as a “parent organization” to its student service clubs. Supporting young people as they learn to lead and serve is central to the club’s work. Vicente, who has been a member for three years, described herself as someone who has always valued volunteering. She finds it rewarding to be part of a group that does what she considers impactful work in Valley Stream.
The recent dinner at Ronald McDonald House is one of many service projects the club organizes throughout the year, but it reflects the essence of its approach: quick action, community partnerships, and a focus on supporting families during difficult times. For the families staying at the house, the warm meal offered a small but meaningful comfort. For the Kiwanis members, it was another chance to live out their mission of service.
The Valley Stream Kiwanis Club continues to welcome new members and volunteers. Its meetings and activities are open to anyone interested in giving back to their community. Information about upcoming projects and membership opportunities is available on the club’s Facebook page.
