Get Together By Helping, Learning & Getting Out in Nature
May Programs & Community Service Opportunities:
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Check out the following opportunities to "Get Together for Mental Health Month!"
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PLEASE Drive Thru & Drop Off A Donation!
Quick & Easy To Participate!
Drive Through With YOUR Donation
Individuals - Families - Groups
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Stuff- A- Truck Food Drive
Long Island Cares Harry Chapin Food Bank
Sunday, May 1st 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Smithtown Town Hall
99 W Main St, Smithtown
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ALL are invited to HELP! Join Town of Smithtown & Long Island Cares in helping local struggling families.
Please do some shopping and 'Stop & Drop' some much needed items at Town Hall Sunday, May 1st.
**ANY amount of these items is very much appreciated!**
PLUS, students CAN earn Community Service Credit!
To earn 2 hours of community service:
- Donate at least 10 items from the most needed items listed above. Items should be from different suggested categories.
To earn 3 hours of community service:
- Donate at least 13 items from the most needed items listed above. One item from each suggested category.
AND
- Submit an 8 ½” x 11” card or poster which expresses the theme of “The Joy of Giving,”
with your donation
Students can choose either one of the above options to earn community service. A max . of three hours can be earned.
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About Long Island Cares, Inc. Founded by the late Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares brings together all available resources for the benefit of the hungry and food insecure on Long Island and, to the best of our ability, provides for the humanitarian needs of our community. Our goals are to improve food security for families, sponsor programs that help families achieve self-sufficiency, and educate the general public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island. Our vision is A Hunger Free Long Island. Long Island Cares, Inc. – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank has a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator as well as earning Guidstar’s Platinum Seal of Transparency.
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Pizza Box Top Event
Friday, May 13th 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
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Attention: Middle and High School Students in Smithtown Township. We're looking for volunteers to put underage important underage drinking prevention messaging stickers on pizza bags from local pizzerias.
Community Service Credit provided.
Space is limited.
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Spring Farm Festival
Smithtown Historical Society
Sunday, May 15th
Volunteer for one or both of the available time slots!
Earn Service Credit!
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Volunteers are needed for help in the following areas:
- Gardening (helping guests plant seedlings in their garden, watering, etc.)
- Kids Games and Crafts
- Petting Zoo
- Admissions
- Clean Up/Floater
There is no rain date for this event; it is rain or shine.
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Volunteer Session 1: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
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Volunteer Session 2: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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To Register Click the button or scan the QR code above
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Join us for our next workshop:
"How to Keep Your Cool": Dealing with Anger and Frustration
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This informative and highly interactive 4 session program offers teens ages 13 -18 the opportunity to learn:
- awareness of current emotional reactions
- the triggers that cause anger/frustration and other strong emotions
- skills to help handle emotions in a positive way and
- how to stay in control and keep your cool
This program is scheduled to take
place on FOUR consecutive
Mondays starting May 9th
Don’t Be Angry- Keep your Cool!
Come participate with friends to learn and practice new skills through FUN interactive activities while earning
FOUR (4) hours of service credit.
Snacks will be served.
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This year marks the 11th annual I Love My Park Day!
I Love My Park Day, held the first Saturday in May, attracts thousands of volunteers from across the state to participate in cleanup, improvement, and beautification events at New York State parks, historic sites and public lands.
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You can enjoy all of the wonderful parks that the
Town of Smithtown has to offer.
All are beautifuly maintained
by the
Town of Smithtown Parks Department.
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May 7th is “I Love My Park Day”
Up to TWO Chances to WIN Prizes!
Easy & FUN to Participate!!
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To recognize and celebrate I Love My Park Day in Smithtown Township we are giving away some of our favorite outdoor games.
FOUR (4) different campaign participants will be chosen at the end of May and will win either Kan Jam or Slam Ball
(we have two of each to give away!)
To Enter:
1. Go to Instagram and follow us @smithtown_youth_bureau
2. Like our post related to the contest
3. Post a picture of you in your favorite park and tag us on Instagram (Make an additional post with a 2nd pic for a bonus entry!) TWO chances to WIN and you have all month long to enter!
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In the link below you will find a listing of Town of Smithtown
facilities, including all of the parks and beaches:
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Did You know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? This year's theme from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is “Together for Mental Health.”
Check us out on social media as we highlight mental health and wellness all month long!
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I Love My Park Day is May 7th and we are giving away our favorite outdoor games!
Make sure to follow us on Instagram for information on how to enter: @smithtown_youth_bureau
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In-Person Events:
Stuff-A-Truck: Food Drive for Long Island Cares
May 1st 10:00am- 2:00pm
See above for more information.
"How to Keep Your Cool": Dealing with Anger and Frustration
4 Sessions: May 9th, 16th, 23rd & June 6th: 4:00pm- 5:00pm
See above for details and how to register.
Pizza Box Top Event
May 13th: 3:30pm-5:00pm
See above for details and how to register.
Spring Farm Festival
May 15th: 12:00pm-4:00pm
See above for details on how to volunteer. Event will be held rain or shine.
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Ongoing Community Service Opportunities:
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"The Do's & Don'ts of
Internet Safety"
A great quick & easy way middle and high school students can earn community service credit!
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Step 3: At the end of each level, choose the option to Create a certificate and save it to your computer.
Step 4: Send ALL four certificates to: youthbureau@smithtownny.gov with the participants Full Name as you would like it to appear on the certificate.
Participants will earn 1 hour of community service.
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Creative Connections Campaign
HALI’s Creative Connections campaign connects with our community experiencing loneliness through letters, pictures, drawings, poetry, and art that can be delivered to and
kept by people living in these lonely places.
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Please email Emily Vaianella with any questions at:
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To reach every person residing at Pilgrim State Hospital and keep the Creative Connections campaign going they will need 275 letters/art/cards each month!
Participant's can earn a max. of 8 hours of community service.
To participate, please mail your creations to:
Hands Across Long Island
Attn: Emily Vaianella
159 Brightside Avenue
Central Islip, NY, 11722
3 cards = 1 hour of community service
6 cards = 2 hours of community service
25(+)cards = 8 hours of community service
Use the PDF below to VIEW & SHARE the entire Creative Connections
Invitation Letter with your group
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Community Partner Agency Volunteer Opportunities:
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Smithtown Library System Teen Volunteer Opportunities
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Registration requirements for all programs are listed in the description of each program.
Library teen volunteer opportunities are open to those in grades 6-12 (up to age 18), unless otherwise noted.
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Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau Scheduling After- School Enrichment Programs NOW!
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The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau is in full swing with our very popular after-school enrichment programs.
April we were at: Great Hollow MS, Accompsett MS, Kings Park HS, Hauppauge HS, and St. Patrick's School
May you can find us at: Nesaquake MS, Accomposett MS, St. Patrick’s School
We provide programming at all our of our township school districts and local organizations (including scout programs). Programs are usually offered in person, but all can be provided virtually in some form. These programs are generally offered during after-school hours, but all can be scheduled during classroom time if desired.
There are many scheduling options, and all are flexible by design to best meet the needs of each school. All programs are fully funded and can be provided to schools by trained, professional Youth Bureau staff members at no cost.
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“Babysitting/Child Care Skills”: In this very popular program Middle School students learn by practicing skills on RealCare babies to hold, change, and feed life-like babies, and have opportunity to practice how to soothe a crying “baby”. Students also learn about child development activities and basic interview skills as it pertains to becoming a babysitter and speaking to parents.
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Here's what one student had to say about our babysitting course:
"This class was useful and had really
fun activities to do with kids"
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“Study Skills”: This program provides tips and advice for middle school students to improve their time management skills as it pertains to their study habits. This helps to improve their overall school performance by being better organized in completing tasks and preparing for exams and projects.
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“Leadership Skills” – This program was developed to provide students with life long skills to prepare them to be effective leaders through effective communication, problem solving, goal setting and learning to deal with different personalities.
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*Eight Dimensions of Wellness-
“Be Your Best Self”: This program gives students time to recognize the importance of overall wellness by providing students with information and activities which focus on each of the eight area of wellness, incorporating coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness.
*“Be Your Best Self” utilizes the SAMHSA – Eight Dimensions of Wellness framework. Each dimension of wellness is interrelated with another and equally vital in the pursuit of optimum health.
*8 Dimensions of Wellness: Social, Environmental, Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, Occupational, Intellectual, & Financial.
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Interested in scheduling? Email Janine Marc-Anthony, our Youth Services Coordinator to request further information and discuss scheduling one or several of these enrichment programs for your school!
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Leadership at Kings Park HS
Students from Kings Park High School participated in our virtual Introduction to Leadership workshop
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The Youth Bureau held a virtual workshop on April 13, 2022 with 22 Kings Park High School students to discuss the topic of leadership, their community involvement and how this is heavily related to the college and job application process.
The presentation focused on:
- how to be a leader in our community
- how to find opportunities to demonstrate leadership in their everyday lives
- how to record their ongoing accomplishments in the areas of academics & personal categories to be used for future college and employment opportunities
This was also an introduction to the Youth Bureau's FOUR (4) session Leadership Skills Bootcamp series . The series concentrates on building and practicing specific skills which students can apply immediately to take on leadership roles.
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The Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board Presents
The 2022 Mark J. Epstein Suffolk County Leadership Award For Combating Antisemitism
ESSAY CONTEST
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The main purpose of this contest is for students to develop and share ideas on how to effectively combat antisemitism in a written essay. This award was created to honor the memory of Mark J. Epstein, the founder of the Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board and a zealous advocate for the Suffolk County Jewish community. There will be three winning essays: one from a High School student, one from a Middle/Junior High School student, and one from an Elementary School student.
The deadline for the contest is May 23rd 2022.
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Have a Minute to Take our Survey?
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Please complete the survey below to assist the Youth Bureau in determining the programming needs of your community. Your feedback will allow the bureau to effectively schedule programs for 2022!
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Youth Bureau Community Needs Assessment Survey- First Quarter 2022
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Participants who complete the survey and provide their email addresses during May
will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 Uber Eats Gift Card!
The survey only takes a few minutes to complete.
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Girl Scout Babysitting & College Knowledge Badges:
Let us help you earn your next Scout badge!
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Our "Babysitting Skills" Course satisfies the Babysitting Badge requirements by covering topics such as: Interviewing for your first babysitting job; First Aid/Emergencies; and Developmental stages of kids.
Our Scout workshop on “College Knowledge” is a great way to earn yet another badge!!
Leaders or Scouts – contact us if you would like to schedule a free workshop for your troop!
*Other training topics which can be tailored to meet scouting badges include:
Leadership Skills; Public Speaking; Time Management & Organizational Skills; Communication Skills & Empathy; College & Career Exploration; Life Skills; Exploring Art; Healthy Living; etc.
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Boy & Girl Scouts & Troop Leaders– Please contact us if you would like to arrange a free workshop for your troop to help scouts earn their badges!
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Girl Scout Leaders can email Girl Scouts of Suffolk County Manager of Programs, Hanorah Gholam.
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Boy Scout Troop Leaders can email one of our Youth & Family Educator, Roseann Conforti.
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Community Service Starts Here!
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Students... Join the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps
&
Local Community Groups/Agencies... Become a Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Program Partner
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Join the hundreds of Other Local
Youth and Families as registered...
Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau
Volunteer Corps Members
Registered volunteers will receive notification of all volunteer opportunities with the Youth Bureau, other Town Departments, as well as for all of our local community partners.
Registered Volunteer Corps members will get priority in registering for community service.
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Does your group/agency
Need Volunteers?
The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau promotes volunteerism and fosters positive social and leadership opportunities for
youth and families throughout the township.
The Youth Bureau is interested in partnering with local
groups and organizations to promote volunteer
opportunities for youth and families in the community.
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For More Information About the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau and our
Programs & Services...
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Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling & Education Center
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Horizons Counseling and Education Center is an OASAS-licensed not-for-profit agency funded to provide adolescent & adult treatment, prevention and education services for drug and alcohol related problems.
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Full Assessment Services:
Appointments Are Available
If there is any concern that you, your child, or another family member may be experiencing a substance abuse issue, PLEASE reach out for information and support.
This has been an extremely challenging time for individuals and families. There is absolutely no shame in seeking assistance in helping yourself and/or loved ones to deal with this situation together.
You don't have to go through this alone...
There is HELP available.
Details can be requested, as well as an appointment for an assuring, professional assessment of the situation you are experiencing.
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The full Assessment & Intake Procedure consists of:
· Phone screening
· In-Person or Virtual Appointment with a Clinical Staff Member to Discuss Potential Need for Treatment
· Consultation with a Member of Our Nursing Staff
· Evaluation with Our Psychiatric Practitioner (provided if needed)
· Drug/Alcohol Testing
· Sessions and with Family and any Person Involved in Your Life
Medication-assisted treatment can be provided
Telehealth Services Available
631-360-7578
To get further information and/or to schedule an assessment:
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Research-Based Prevention Programming
Horizons Counseling and Education Center's Prevention Program works with local schools and community groups to develop and offer drug and alcohol presentations virtually and/or in-person.. If you are interested in a presentation or in having your students take part in an evidence-based preventive, resiliency building program please contact Kelly Devito for more information:
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Visit both of the following EXCELLENT sources for quality family activities:
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Smithtown Children's Foundation (SCF): Provide financial and emotional support to children & families within our Smithtown community by bridging family, friends, neighbors & local business to act as ONE in times of crisis:
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Mental Health Resources:
NYS Office of Mental Health Emotional Support Line:
1-844-863-9314, Additional information:
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Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
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161 E. Main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787
Phone: (631) 360-7595
Fax: (631) 360-7687
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