Heather’s Helpers Honor Namesake with Thanksgiving Kindness

Beloved Riverhead Social Worker Memorialized with Generous Food Donations for Community

RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK (DECEMBER 2022) — The Heather Jablonsky Memorial Committee formed Heather’s Helpers this year to bring acts of service to those in need, and through their efforts this Thanksgiving season, they were able to create and distribute 50 complete Thanksgiving baskets to Pulaski Street Intermediate School families and donate three large bins of food to St. Andrew’s Church. The committee was formed in honor of Heather Jablonsky, a beloved social worker in the Riverhead Central School District for almost 30 years.

“Ms. Jablonsky supported our communities’ families during their times of greatest need and often brightened the holidays for many,” said Pulaski Street Intermediate School Assistant Principal Callan Lonergan. “Helping others in her memory truly feels like the proper tribute to everything Ms. Jablonsky stood for and the compassionate nature she inspired in our students.”

The Pulaski Street Intermediate School social-emotional learning team and the Heather Jablonsky Memorial Committee worked together to lead this project and received a plethora of generous donations from the community. Students and community members then eagerly helped to organize the contributions into Thanksgiving baskets. The kindness spread by all who donated and volunteered reflected Ms. Jablonsky’s giving nature and lifelong dedication to service.

During this holiday season, the Heather Jablonsky Memorial Committee encourages everyone to consider an act of kindness. Heather’s Helpers left a meaningful and heartfelt impact on over 50 Riverhead families this year and inspires others to do the same.

Students working as Heather’s Helpers to package Thanksgiving baskets for families in need

Heather’s Helpers handling Thanksgiving turkeys to be distributed to Pulaski Street Intermediate School families in need