Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School received a range of classroom supplies from LIJ Valley Stream Hospital on Sept. 19. Principal Scott Comis, along with fifth-grade teacher Leigh Tamburello and kindergarten teacher Joanna Walbrecht, visited the hospital lobby to collect items purchased through a Teacher Wish List drive.
The hospital team raised more than $2,000 to fulfill the two teachers’ wish lists, which included classroom materials requested by the educators to support student learning. The initiative reflects the hospital’s ongoing efforts to maintain strong ties with the local community, including area schools.
The drive was organized in part by Nancy Wilson, a hospitality staff member at LIJVS and a parent of a sixth-grade student at Brooklyn Avenue Elementary. Wilson said the project was inspired by the support the school’s PTA had provided to hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, including snacks and drinks. She saw the donation drive as a way to give back to the school community by providing needed classroom supplies.
“Having certain tools and things like that in the classroom to help them learn, stay focused, and things like that play a major part,” Wilson said. “I’m just big on education and anything to help them stay focused and do what they need to do and do well in school.”
The process began toward the end of the previous school year, when classrooms were running low on supplies. Wilson and colleagues at the hospital spent the summer preparing for the project, contacting teachers to gather their Wish Lists and organizing collections and fundraising efforts within the hospital. Donations from staff were combined with purchases made through Wilson’s department to ensure that all requested items were obtained.
The Wish Lists included items tailored to the specific needs of each classroom. Wilson noted that providing these resources can help students succeed academically, especially those who require additional support or tools to stay focused.
The effort highlights the reciprocal relationship between the hospital and the school community, with both sides contributing to the welfare of local families and students.
“I look at this table, I was so flattered by all of it, and the most important thing is your generosity is incredible, but our kids will put that stuff to really, really good use,” Comis said. “So, we’re so grateful. We have really great kids who will really do wonderful things with it. We have two great teachers, and our superintendent is fabulous. We couldn’t be more grateful. We’re very lucky to be here. The connection is just amazing.”
The collection of items was handed over during the Sept. 19 visit, marking the culmination of several months of planning and collaboration between hospital staff, volunteers and teachers.
