Westhampton Beach Teen Distributes School Supplies to Needy

Ariana DeMattei, a Westhampton Beach Middle School student, knew her goal to fill 150 backpacks with school supplies for area elementary school students in need by the start of the school year was not going to be easy. But, last week, she reached her goal.

On Monday, DeMattei, distributed the supplies she collected and purchased through fundraisers to 130 local students. 

The students arrived in the her school's cafeteria finding tables filled with grade-specific supplies and were able to "shop" for the items they needed. 

"A number of families showed up and the expression on the children's face was complete joy and their parents were extremely grateful," said Nancy DeMattei, Ariana's mother. 

Ariana started her project in February as part of her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. She set up a wish list on Amazon.com; enlisted the the Jewish Center of the Hamptons to help collect items; worked to accrue a large donation from Modell's  and held a community fundraiser, called a Spring Splash.