Reported by: Yuqi Nie
On Saturday, November 23, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, the AYLUS Syosset Branch conducted a food drive at 598 Stewart Ave, Bethpage, NY 11714, in support of Long Island Cares. The event was organized into two shifts, each comprising four volunteers. A group photo was taken at noon; however, volunteer Callie Chen did a great job but was absent from the photo as she had to leave at that time, and another volunteer arrived slightly later so the group photo was taken at 12:02 PM.
Store manager Tom provided exceptional support throughout the event. Despite the chilly morning temperature of approximately 40°F, volunteers remained enthusiastic. As the day progressed and temperatures continued to drop, it became evident that volunteers should dress warmly for such events.
The store had an ample supply of carts, facilitating the movement of heavy donation boxes and reducing the physical strain on volunteers. In the afternoon, adult volunteer Samantha from Farmingdale State University joined the team. Her pleasant demeanor and exemplary performance served as an inspiration to the student volunteers.
Parents suggested implementing a rotation system for students distributing flyers and collecting donations to ensure adequate rest and maintain high energy levels. Additionally, a reminder was sent to Long Island Cares noting that only nine boxes were provided, which proved insufficient due to the high volume of enthusiastic holiday season donations.
Overall, the event was a success, highlighting the community’s generosity and the dedication of the volunteers.
Volunteer List and Hours:
Yuqi Nie(7 hours), Isabel Xu(3 hours), Callie Chen(3 hours), Elva Chen(3 hours), Rayya Zhang(4 hours), Michelle Huang (4 hours), Madison Lee(4 hours)
