Each November, we come together as a community to support families in need by donating turkeys with all the trimmings to The Community Food Pantry at St. Mary’s in Mohegan Lake, continuing a tradition of generosity that has become an important part of who we are at Shrub Oak International School. This year, we donated 50 Butterball turkeys along with all the shelf-stable ingredients needed to prepare a complete Thanksgiving dinner, including canned vegetables, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, and other essentials. What began several years ago as an initiative led by our Founder and CEO, Michael Koffler, has grown into a schoolwide effort that reflects our gratitude for the support our neighbors show us throughout the year.
We approach this annual project as an opportunity for our students to build meaningful skills while contributing to a cause that benefits families in our local area. Students take part in every stage of the process—planning what is needed, shopping at local stores, organizing the donations, and delivering everything to the food pantry. These hands-on experiences help strengthen communication, social engagement, and flexibility as students navigate real-world environments alongside staff who guide and encourage them. Practical tasks such as comparing items, following lists, making choices, and interacting with store employees serve as natural extensions of the learning that takes place on our campus each day.
This year’s shopping trip brought us to DeCicco Family Markets in Jefferson Valley, where staff members welcomed our students and supported them throughout the process. Their assistance, paired with a generous discount by the store’s owner, made it possible for us to extend our impact and ensure the donation reached as many families as possible. Experiences like these reinforce the connection between our students and the broader community, offering opportunities for authentic interaction and reinforcing the importance of collaboration.
When it came time to deliver the donation, our students and staff worked together to load and transport the items to the pantry. The act of physically handing over the food provided an immediate and meaningful understanding of how their efforts contribute to the wellbeing of local families preparing to celebrate the holiday. Watching our students take pride in their role and express genuine excitement about helping others reaffirmed why this tradition remains so important to us.
This annual food drive reflects the values that guide our mission—gratitude, empathy, and community engagement. As a school dedicated to helping each student develop the tools they need to thrive, we see immense value in providing opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom and into the world around us. Through this initiative, our students not only contribute to a cause that supports their neighbors but also experience the fulfillment that comes from giving, sharing, and connecting with others.
Each year, this tradition reinforces our belief that service is a powerful form of learning. By working side-by-side with students, staff, and community partners, we continue to build a culture of generosity and mutual support—one that reflects the spirit of Thanksgiving and the values we live by every day.
