Hope Moore and Amanda Maldonado, School of Social Welfare undergraduate seniors, organized an Easter Basket Drive, putting together more than 40 baskets and packages for local children and families.

In time for Easter, the baskets and family packages were distributed to children and families living within homeless shelters at a local agency called NANA’s House (Never Alone, Never Afraid Inc). The agency serves displaced families and single men in the Shirley, Mastic and Moriches area.

Hope and Amanda with the collection of Easter baskets.

The baskets and packages contained candy, cartons of eggs, bags of plastic eggs, egg coloring kits, and other goodies. The items were donated from the undergraduate senior class, family and friends.

Both students were working with the homeless population for their  studies  in social  work which includes providing service to vulnerable populations. They decided they wanted to do more to help families give their children a joyful  Easter.

“These families are already not able to provide basic needs and as mothers, we wanted to give these parents/guardians a way to still give their children Easter,” said Hope.

Check out more about the School of Social Welfare: https://socialwelfare.stonybrookmedicine.edu/aboutus

Two of the seven staff members at Quogue Wildlife Refuge are former Stony Brook students and the Refuge’s employees have participated in the University’s annual Earthstock celebration since 2012, educating Stony Brook students about Long Island’s natural world and its inhabitants.

The refuge actively recruits its interns at Earthstock because of Stony Brook’s focus on sustainability.

Cara Fernandes ’16

Cara Fernandes ’16 of Baiting Hollow, New York, started at the refuge as an intern and now she coordinates and teaches educational programs about Long Island’s native plants, animals and ecology to a variety of audiences. She also cares for permanently injured wildlife, feeding them and administering medicine.

During the spring and fall, the refuge sends representatives to educate the public at fairs, including Earthstock, where Quogue Wildlife Refuge staffer Tony Valderrama appeared the last three years.

“The interaction between the students and the wildlife is priceless,” he adds. “My hope is that these simple interactions become a catalyst for future environmentalists. We are lucky to have the best interns every year who come from Stony Brook to work with us.”

Read more: http://www.stonybrook.edu/happenings/alumni/university-enjoys-great-relationship-with-wildlife-refuge/

During the Long Island State Veterans Home Annual Veterans Day Ceremony on November 13, members of the United University Professions (UUP) continued their Hats for Heroes Program, distributing service caps to residents who served in the military.

This year’s program was possible through a collaboration of sponsors which included many community members and the National Corvette Restorers Society Metro Long Island Chapter.

Each hat represented the veteran’s branch of service or service time spent.

“We were so proud to have this opportunity to be able to express our appreciation to our heroes. It is a wonderful opportunity as we approach Thanksgiving and we thank everyone who donated for letting us do this on your behalf,” said Nancy Gaugler, UUP Community Services Committee Chair.

UUP Stony Brook University Chapter President Kevin Moriarty presented the donations to the Jonathan Spier, the LISVH Deputy Executive Director. Jonathan expressed the gratefulness of the program and all those involved in support of it.