During this COVID-19 crisis, two Bellport High School teachers stepped up to help local families in need.
Aimee Iuliucci and Kelly Scotti organized and led a T-shirt fundraiser called South Country Strong to benefit the Lighthouse Mission food outreach program in Bellport.
“The Lighthouse Mission exists to feed the hungry and help the homeless by sharing God’s love with people in need in practical ways,” according to its website. “Our commitment is to feed the poor, but our goal is to empower people to overcome poverty and live purpose-filled lives.”
According to the charity’s Facebook page (see post below), its food distribution lines are unprecedentedly long.
“The school community really came together to help residents in need during this trying time,” Scotti said.
Seeing what Lighthouse was doing throughout the crisis, she and Iuliucci teamed up and sold nearly 500 T-shirts to community residents and students, raising more than $2,000.
The money was donated to Lighthouse Mission to help replenish the food pantry for people in need in the South Country area, which runs from East Patchogue to Yaphank, and the surrounding areas.
The local clothing company Hart + Sole Clothing donated its time in designing the t-shirts, the teachers said.
Hart + Sole has also volunteered in the past by designing clothing for the school store at Bellport High School, the high school staff and boys basketball team.
Photo: Bellport High School teachers Kelly Scotti and Amy Iuliucci wearing their South Country Strong t-shirts. (South Country courtesy photo)
