Lynwood's Student Leaders Hold Operation Troops Pack-Out

There are many members of the armed forces that hail from the Sachem community. In order to show troops on active duty that they are not forgotten this holiday season, The Student Leadership Lighthouse at planned Operation Troops.

Afterschool one day last week, the student leaders, about 50 students in fourth and fifth grades, gathered for a pack-out to orchestrate the boxes to be sent. The civic-minded children were joined by student leadership advisors: second grade teacher, Michele Tuminelli and the school's social worker Cathy Rafferty, as well as the teacher who spearheaded the Operation Troops initiative, Sue Macchio. Lynwood participated in a similar event two years ago when Macchio's son Richard, a soldier and 2002 graduate of , was in Iraq. He is now serving in Afghanistan.

The student leaders collected and boxed hundreds of items such as books, toothpaste, socks, candy, granola bars, shaving supplies and other nonperishable goods to send to our troops stationed in various parts of the world.

This year most of the boxes will be sent to two or three posts in Afghanistan, two in Okinawa, Japan and one in North Carolina to honor local residents serving their country such as 2010 graduate Daniel Bourgal, a marine stationed in Okinawa.

The aggregate shipping costs of over $800 were covered by the combined generosity of the and the St. James VFW Post.

"This started with me as a labor of love, me and the student leadership advisors. It's a great way to get them [students] involved in community service, and really recognize our veterans," said Macchio. "We're sending to my son's group and a marine group in Afghanistan, and to soldiers and marines in Japan. It's a nice mix of ladies and gentlemen we're helping out."

Rafferty started the peer leadership club a few years ago, and this year the group added a component of character education.

"It's completely grown since it started a few years ago," said Rafferty. "It's very big into community service building. We're also collecting for our food drive and getting ready for Adopt-A- Family."

About 75 boxes stuffed with goodies, and packed with love will be sent out to the troops, and the additional supplies collected will go to the Suffolk County homeless, the Lynwood Food Pantry and possibly the Thanksgiving food drive.

Rafferty said, "At Lynwood we do a lot of community service.  Lynwood families rise to the occasion every time. It's always more than expected, more than imagined."