Schools

Dickens Festival Bake Sale a Success for Port Jeff Student Club

Despite the cold weather, the Leo Club from Port Jefferson High School had a profitable bake sale at Dickens Festival this year.

At the  this year  Leo Club braved the cold weather to hold a bake sale to benefit one of their many philanthropic endeavors. This particular bake sale helped the club contribute to Blizzard Boxes/Meals on Wheels, which provides food to those who are unable to travel in inclement weather.

"We already packaged up several hundred rations and sent them out in November," said Maya Mason and Anisha Kolupoti, seniors at  and co-presidents of the Leo Club. "We anticipate doing the same in January."

As economic  indicators go, it doesn't get more fun that this. The Leo Club had a similar experience as  in that while it was bitter cold that weekend, business at this year's Dickens Festival was brisk.

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"Working at the Dickens Festival was very profitable," the co-presidents said. "However, it was extremely cold."

The bake sale was just one of many fundraisers that the students organize throughout the year.

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"This year, we also partnered with Darkside Haunted House by selling raffle tickets that ultimately went to benefit underprivileged children in Nicaragua," they said. "Last year we sold lanyards to raise money for the disaster in Haiti."

In the spring the Leo Club also sells daffodils in school to benefit cancer research through the American Cancer Society. Then in June they organize a blood drive to finish out the year.

"For every person who donates blood, three lives are saved," said the co-presidents. "We like to encourage participation in the high school to help students understand the value of this sacrifice and reinforce this unique form of charity that saves so many lives."

The Leo Club at the high school is one of the larger school clubs with up to 40 members being involved at one time, depending on the semester. The co-presidents explained that the Leo Club is similar to the Lions Club and has an emphasis on community service.

The Dickens Festival provided a good platform for the students to show what they do.

"The Dickens Festival was a great opportunity to reach out to a large part of the community and others who came from nearby towns," said Mason and Kolupoti.


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