Sweeping up the Funds in Sayville

Well, maybe they used checks or dollar bills, but thanks to 23 great acts performed by Sayville High School and Middle School students at the annual S.W.E.E.P. Talent Show, the High School community service organization collected $1,100 for the Greater Sayville Food Pantry.

Audiences were enormously entertained by one amusing comedian and one “rocking” band, while others sang, played piano, danced, and even “hula hooped,” all for this worthy cause.

S.W.E.E.P. (Students Working to Enhance Environmental Protection) is an active Sayville High School club that has been committed to the preservation and restoration of the vast natural resources around the Sayville area through a variety of recycling programs, clean-up projects, water conservation, water pollution prevention, and public awareness of indigenous plants. This year, the annual S.W.E.E.P.-sponsored fundraiser, the Talent Show, gave back to the local community in need.

“The Greater Sayville Food Pantry not only helps families with food donations,” explained Sonja Anderson, S.W.E.E.P. adviser and High School Science Teacher, “but the Pantry also provides funds to make rent payments or pay electric bills. There has been an increase in need and the Pantry was very excited to receive our donation.” Subsequently, Chestene Coverdale, executive director and community representative of the Greater Sayville Food Pantry, sent a letter of gratitude to S.W.E.E.P.

While the S.W.E.E.P. students worked very hard to make this event happen, Kyle Tieman-Strauss and Gabrielle Pacia deserve special praise for co-chairing the committee that organized the successful event.