In conjunction with the Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of the Island, Council #6911’s Adopt-A-Battalion program the administrative staff, teachers and students of Massapequa Schools conducted a drive this past holiday season for our troops stationed inIraq. Participating schools included Birch Lane, East L a k e , F a i r f i e l d , L o c k h a r t , McKenna and Unqua Elementary Schools, Berner Middle School and the Ames Campus of Massapequa High School. Also participating were Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School, Massapequa Park and Stratford Road kindergarten and fourth grade in Plainview. Thanks to their combined efforts 100 cartons of snacks and toiletries as well as 2,500 letters of support were sent to the approximately 2,000 servicemen and women that the group sponsors in Iraq.

The letters and items were packed and readied for shipping by volunteers of the Knights of Columbus at their Council in Massapequa Park. Postage was paid by the Knights of Columbus. Much of the shipping cost was defrayed by donations received from local residents. Thanks to the

Massapequa Schools and the entire Massapequa community, the Knights of Columbus was able to send a total of 140 cartons to our military personnel during the holiday season. In addition, the Lockhart Elementary School honored past and present servicemen and women at their Veterans Day ceremony and collected 50 cartons of supplies for the troops.

The Knights of Columbus will continue to accept donations at their Council on Saturday mornings between 9 a.m. and noon as long as our troops remain in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Council is located at 2 Eastgate Rd., Massapequa Park, next to Big Daddies.