Great Neck mom, son help school support troops

Timothy Meyer

As Great Neck resident Sheryl Donofrio watched a news program about four American soldiers who died in Iraq, she wondered why her fellow citizens seemed more concerned about what Charlie Sheen would say next – and that was when she decided to do something to help.

“People are reading about that stupid Charlie Sheen,” Donofrio said. “Four boys were killed and no one did anything for these soldiers. Everyone seems to be more interested in this nonsense, and you have daughters, sons, and brothers dying, and nobody cares.”

Donofrio contacted Lakeville School Principal Phyllis Feldman, and told her she wanted to start a fundraising effort to collect basic necessities to send to U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

The items included soap, toothpaste, tooth brushes, granola bars, shampoo, shaving cream, movies, sunglasses, candy, frisbees, sunscreen, eye drops, footballs, and non-perishable goods.

Feldman told her she thought it was a good idea, but needed some time to make it happen. The final go ahead to begin shortly before Memorial Day.

“This is very important to her [Donofrio],” Feldman said last Friday “We’ve been talking on and off for a year, looking for a good vehicle to do this. Now that it has come to fruition, it has now been going on for the last two weeks.”

Donofrio’s eight-year-old son, Joseph, attends the Lakeville School. His third grade class, led by teacher Linda Ulman spearheaded the collection with Joseph offering a big helping hand, according to Feldman.

“Since Mrs. Donofrio is so involved, her mother thought it would a good idea to invite her son to help get involved in the fundraiser,” Feldman said.

Joseph became a spokesman going from class to class promoting the fundraiser.

“He is a special child, that really understands the value of giving to others,” Feldman said.

Having volunteered in soup kitchens for the past several years, Donofrio is no stranger to community advocacy. She also gives donations to a camp called South Hampton Fresh Air Home, a camp for the physically challenged but cognitively alive, and is an active member of the Lakeville School Parent Teacher Association.

“I think we all have to help out where we can,” Donofrio said.

Donofrio set out to garner donations from local area businesses. She visited many Great Neck area stores asking different managers and owners to help her cause. And she did not take no for an answer, persistently persuading them to donate whatever they could spare.

As many times as she was turned down, Donofrio remained undeterred, frequently eliciting a generous response from the people she approached. Donofrio visited nearly a dozen stores last Tuesday afternoon.

“These are people who are fighting for our freedom, so we can have the rights we enjoy today,” Donofrio said. “I believe in giving to everyone, but I think we should start right here with our troops.”

By the end of the day, Donofrio received donations from Hildebrandt’s Restaurant in Williston Park, Starbucks on both Northern Boulevard and Middle Neck Road, Walbaums, the Mid-Nassau Dental Group in Williston Park, and North Shore Tobacco, The Five Continents, Spectacles and Tennis junction – all of which are in Great Neck.

Hildebrandt’s donated a few pounds of licorice, while both Starbucks gave coffee, biscotti, and granola bars. Waldbaums donated toothpaste, mouth wash, tooth brushes, soap and granola bars. Mid-Nassau Dental Group gave away sample packs of toothpaste, with North Shore Tobacco and The Five Continents donating bags of peanuts and candy. Spectacles donated more than a half dozen sunglasses and Tennis Junction donated a few soccer balls.

In total, Donofrio collected more than 80 pounds of donated material during the course of her two-week mission to help out the troops, a lot which she purchased and donated herself.

Her husband Joe also donated $100 towards the shipping costs for all the items, along with Great Neck resident Matt Klein who donated $20. Donofrio said the estimated total shipping costs could be in the hundreds of dollars.

Her son Joseph said he “enjoyed” helping his mother, and said he would gladly pitch in again.

With her first self-assigned mission nearly complete, she’s said she’s considering another fund-raising effort for the troops abroad to coincide with the July 4th observance.

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