In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic Wheatley students are finding ways to make a difference in their community. Just after buildings were closed on March 15th, Benji Gilbert (Class of 2021) began raising funds for children who are inpatients at LIJ and Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center. He learned that these patients, in particular, have been unable to have visitors (other than one family member), so he reached out to the Children’s Medical Fund of New York and the Child Life team at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital to see what was needed.
Through social media, Benji was able to raise enough funds to provide needed art supplies for the children. He also purchased iPads so that doctors and patients can communicate with family members who cannot visit. Benji plans on continuing his work in collaboration with Wheatley’s Student Senate in order to raise funds for an larger iPad drive.
If you are interested in supporting such an initiative, consider making a donation to the Children’s Medical Fund: https://www.cmfny.org/
Benji’s efforts were highlighted on Tuesday morning’s Fox 5 Hero of the Day segment! Thank you to Benji for this important work!
