Special Sayville Connections 

Supply U.S. Troops in Afghanistan 

Through their Caring Hands and Hearts Campaign last year, the Sayville Middle School students collected more than thirty care packages for U.S. Troops in Afghanistan. Among the donated items were an assortment of candies, beanie babies, toiletries, letters, and decorated note cards. In addition, the students sent a large poster of the American Flag created from their “caring” handprints, with their heartfelt message of “thank you” written in the center.

What made this shipment especially remarkable was that the transport was safeguarded by Sayville’s own—Sayville School Social Studies Teacher Michael Huggins, who had been called to duty a second time as a New York Air National Guardsman by the U.S. Air Force.

During his recent deployment to Afghanistan, Captain Mike Huggins, along with members of the 106 Air National Guard, shipped the supplies which were distributed to soldiers stationed in Kandahar—including1989 Sayville Graduate Major Greg Glennon, who is serving as a Medevac Helicopter pilot—and the local children. While getting items from home is such a tremendous morale booster for the men, Captain Huggins explained that the toys also worked wonders in fostering a bond of friendship with the local children. “Word cannot say how greatly we appreciate the thoughtfulness of our families and friends at home.”