MPowering Kids’ 2nd Annual Food Drive Helps Spread Holiday Cheer

“MPathy” Program Event Helps Feed The Hungry On Long Island

Westbury, NY, December 22, 2005 — Students in the MPowering Kids program, a non-profit after-school program that provides tutoring, mentoring, and cultural enrichment for students in under-served communities, held their second annual Food Drive in December to help feed hungry Long Islanders during the holidays.

The event was part of the MPowering Kids MPathy Program, in which students participate in activities that benefit the local community and help others in need. The food drive was held in conjunction with Island Harvest, a local non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce food waste and end hunger on Long Island.

Collecting Food to Feed Long Island’s Homeless and Hungry
During the drive, students created awareness by inundating their school with handmade posters and slogans, such as, “Have a heart, and donate!” and “Stop, Drop and Give!”  By soliciting food donations from their families, classmates, teachers and administrators, the students collected non-perishable foods such as soup, vegetables, beans, fruit and many other items to feed Long Island’s homeless and hungry.

Ingrid Aparacio, a fifth grade student in the MPowering Kids program, was one of many students who participated in the food drive. “It feels good to help others during this season,” said Ms. Aparacio.

MPathy Program’s Community Service Activities
As part of their participation in the MPowering Kids program, students are required to regularly engage in community service projects that help others in need. The MPathy Program reflects a core philosophy of the MPowering Kids program that students learn to value their self-worth and strive to benefit others.

“We created the MPathy Program to teach students how to give back to their community,” said Susan Marshall, founder and president of MPowering Kids. “The food drive is just one of many community-based activities that the children will participate in while enrolled in the MPowering Kids program.”

About MPowering Kids
MPowering Kids is a non-profit charitable organization that is "promising help for promising students"™ with after-school programs focused on tutoring, mentoring, and cultural enrichment in under-served communities. After researching where a program such as MPowering Kids would have the most impact, the program was established in the Westbury School District. Since its inception, MPowering Kids has continually worked closely with the district’s teachers and administrators to enhance the academic promise of students. For additional information, please visit the MPowering Kids web site at www.mpoweringkids.org.

The MPowering Kids program is made possible through the generous support of individual and corporate sponsors. For additional information about MPowering Kids, please visit the About Us section or go to the Donations page to help support MPowering Kids.

About Island Harvest
Island Harvest helps to feed Long Island’s homeless and/or hungry families by donating food to hundreds of non-profit organizations based in Long Island. For more information, visit the Island Harvest web site at www.islandharvest.org.

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