Through the Prodell Middle School’s Makerspace, middle school students have poured their hearts into creating more than 100 handmade valentines for local veterans. The library collaborated with the Best Buddies Club and the National Junior Honor Society to brighten up the lives of the men and women who served this country. 

On Feb. 10, Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon joined Christina Shiffman’s IMPACT students in the library to accept the valentines and to address upcoming service projects. Legislator Lennon discussed what community service projects the students can begin and others can sustain that would make an IMPACT to the Shoreham-Wading River community. Examples included monthly care package assembly for homebound seniors, Little Free Pantry restocking, participating in the Reading Buddy Program and an E-bike awareness campaign.  

Legislator Lennon also encouraged the students to contact his office for connections to government agencies that can assist them with their projects. 

The middle school’s IMPACT course is a “civics in action” course in which students learn various skills to bring service projects to life. Students learn various research tools to assist them in figuring out how to make an impact with their research.