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Rotary unites to pack duffels for veterans nie and Susan Sherman founded the organization, and will attend the event alongside local Veterans who once served Rotarians and more than 60 with honor and distinction but expected volunteers, including now face homelessness will be students from Freeport High at the heart of a community School’s Interact Club. “The day of service is an effort on Saturday, when volunteers gather at Freeport High important project for the community and helps School to assemble homeless veterans,” hundreds of “DigniRotary President ty Duffel” bags filled Jordan Pecora wrote with essential items. in a text message. The event, which “The Freeport Merwill run from 9 a.m. rick Rotary club to noon at the high wanted to support school, at 50 S. this endeavor and Brookside Ave., is DeRosEttE has been participatopen to the public. HARRIsoN ing in this event for The project, led manager, the past three years.” by the F ree por tRotary project “This service M e r r i ck Ro t a r y project means a lot Club in partnership with the nonprofit General to our veterans who served our Needs, is part of Rotary’s country and provides them with nationwide EPIC Day of Ser- essential items to make their vice, an initiative that seeks to lives better,” Pecora continued. DeRosette Harrison, a fiveshow the power of collective action with Rotary Clubs across year Rotary member and the the nation carrying out differ- event’s project manager, emphasized the personal meaning ent service projects in unison. G e n e r a l N e e d s, a L o n g behind the work. “So many of the people Island-based nonprofit, provides basic necessities to home- receiving this are homeless and less and at-risk veterans while maybe not by choice,” Harrison treating recipients with “the said. “These men served our counutmost dignity.” Husband and wife duo LonContinued on page 7
By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ
mrafiq@liherald.com
E
ven a little bit goes a long way.
Courtesy IDC
Mayor Robert Kennedy presented Janna Rodriguez with a citation of recognition for her leadership and child care advocacy.
‘Playroom to Podium’ rally calls for child care reform By MoHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
More than 100 community members gathered at the Innovative Daycare Corp, in Freeport, on Monday for “From Playroom to Podium: A Rally for Child Care Justice,” a vibrant two-hour event calling for equity, funding and recognition for child care providers. The rally was part of the national Day Without Child Care movement, founded in 2021 by a coalition of early-childhood educators under the umbrella of Community Change, a progressive community-organizing group whose members include IDC’s
founder, Janna Rodriguez. “We’re here today not just to rally,” Rodriguez told the crowd, “but to remind this country what holds it together, and it’s called care, children and community.” Rodriguez, a longtime advocate, educator and small-business owner, was central to organizing the only Long Island-based action for the day. The rally featured a lineup of speakers that included elected officials, parents, high school interns and even young children who are enrolled at the day care facility. Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy attended, and presented Rodriguez with a citation Continued on page 10