Wantagh Elementary sets aside November 26, 2024 to celebrate “Together We Make A Difference Day” which is also the school’s motto. This year, students celebrated by collecting, packing and donating birthday boxes to be donated to Birthday Wishes. This organization makes a difference in the lives of homeless children and their families by bringing them the joy of a birthday party.

Birthday Wishes’ programs provide On-Site Parties and Birthday-in-a-Box to ensure that children in shelters, motels, or other unstable housing situations can still experience the joy of celebrating their birthdays. The Birthday-in-a-Box program delivers all necessary party supplies and wrapped gifts to families and shelters that cannot host volunteers.

Each class collected party supplies, packed them and honored the day by taking class photos in front of the school’s mural with their boxes to commemorate the day. Over 30 birthday boxes were donated that day.

Students also took a moment to leave thoughtful notes on poster paper which lined the wall across from the mural. Making a difference by donating books to kids in need, picking up trash, and being kind to people were some of the special notes written by students.

Rachel Iannuzzi, Wantagh Elementary Assistant Principal, shared, “Thank you so much for an amazing Together We Make a Difference Day! It is incredible to see the impact we can have as a community.”
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