Community Corner

Patch Achiever: Erik Kryzanski

Each week we honor our best and brightest local children.

Name: Erik Kryzanski
Age:
12
Grade
: 6th
School
:
Achievement: Organized a school wide supply drive for those in need.

When Erik's parents, Mike and Halina Kryzanski, sat him down to talk about the importance of a good education in a struggling economy, he took more from it than just needing to get good grades.

The motivational speech worked more than his parents could have dreamed and Erik immediately began working alongside the town's STEPS program and Community Services Department to organize a school-wide supply drive to help families struggling to make ends meet.

"I found out in talking with my dad that there are many oarents losing their jobs and I wanted to help out," Erik, a member of the STEPS Youth Advisory Board, said. "Everyone should be able to have supplies and families should keep their money for food or other needs."

The program runs through Friday, June 3, and all donations will be given to community services to support their annual backpack program.

DePaolo Assistant Principal Christopher Palmieri said Erik approached him with the idea and went through the steps of making posters to hang around the school. He said the effort has continued to gain support each day, with a backpack full of supplies dropped off on Tuesday.

"It's something he took on himself. He deserves all the credit," Palmieri said.


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