A year of community service and civic involvement has begun for Stimson Middle School with its JZips Fundraiser Competition!  JZips is a Long Island-based organization that makes treatment easier for children with cancer. Chemotherapy is typically given using a mediport - a plastic tube that’s surgically implanted under the skin in the neck or chest.  Specially designed t-shirts with zippers near the shoulder make access to the mediport easier for kids undergoing regular chemotherapy and, therefore, a lot more comfortable because the children get to keep their shirts on during treatment. JZips was started by a young cancer patient, Jordan Harouche of Great Neck, who was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 15. He began asking his friends and family to donate t-shirts. His family would then add the zippers, and give those reworked t-shirts to other children undergoing cancer treatment.  

Principal Michael Duggan has wanted to get his students more involved in community service so Stimson’s SBM (School-Based Management) team - which includes students, parents, teachers, and staff - discussed ways to make that happen this school year.  “It’s been something that I’ve wanted to do because I think at this age group, civic engagement is really important.  They need to be able to start getting on that path and having service to the community as part of their life. It may spur an interest in a young person that isn't going to join a sports team or they're not going to go read a book in the library, but maybe this [community service] is their thing,” said Mr. Duggan. The JZips fundraiser is one of more than a dozen events to support charities that Stimson has planned for this year.

The JZips fundraiser competition began on Monday, September 23rd and ends on Wednesday, October 2nd. There are two parts to this fundraiser. Grades 7 and 8 are competing against each other to see which grade brings in the most t-shirts. Also, each homeroom is competing to see which room can collect the most money to donate to JZips. 

Students can bring in brand new t-shirts with tags, sizes newborn to adult, to their homeroom.  They’re collected daily and placed in the grade level collection bins at Stimson’s front entrance.  Money is also being collected daily in homeroom and tallied every day. The homeroom that raises the most money wins a bagel breakfast. The grade that collects the most t-shirts wins the coveted Stimson Cup and bragging rights!

“We're looking for sizes zero to XXL. Toddlers to adults. The t-shirts can be any color,” explained Mr. Duggan. “The organization prefers shirts with fun designs or logos. Especially when we think about the pediatric cancer patients, we're looking for Marvel or cartoons. We’re looking for kids to say ‘Oh, I really want to wear this.’ Something they can wear throughout the day, help with what they’re going through, and still feel pretty cool about themselves.”

For more information about this wonderful organization, please visit the JZips website.

Grade level collection bins have been placed at Stimson’s main entrance

The grade that collects the most t-shirts wins the coveted Stimson Cup and bragging rights!