The Valentine Box Project began with two retired Sachem teachers wondering how they could make a difference. Because of their deep love for reading, Sue Hart and Marie McNair, decided to collect books for children whose families were facing difficult times.
Each February, the staff and students of Waverly Avenue Elementary School are called upon to fill as many shoeboxes as they can with age appropriate books, treats, drinks, snacks, and toys for boys and girls ages 5 through 12.
In reality, there is no age limit for children in need so the groups that the school donates to end up asking for boxes for infants through young adults. These boxes are delivered to places in our community like Lighthouse Mission, Annemarie’s House, Mary’s House, Help USA, Lake House, Brighter Tomorrows and Hour Children.
These groups gratefully accept the boxes and distribute them to children to foster a love for reading and put smiles on their faces. This year, these groups collectively needed 357 boxes. Our amazing Waverly family answered the call and then some. They donated more than 600!
Each group will be receiving the boxes they requested plus an extra supply to share with children in the future. The school is also proud to donate 75 boxes to the Emergency Housing Department of Suffolk County this year.
The most amazing thing about this project is how many people want to be involved. So many parents volunteer to come in the day we collect the boxes to help repair, wrap and pack new boxes. Others send in extra supplies to create additional boxes. And the project trickles deeper into our community than to just Waverly Avenue Elementary School. What started out as a small idea that two Waverly teachers cultivated is now a tradition that reaches beyond the walls of our school!
