Brookhaven Donors Deliver Hundreds of Winter Coats to INTERFACE Drive

Brookhaven residents in need received a major boost when employees of Brookhaven Science Associates delivered a large shipment of winter coats to Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville, followed by a student-led donation from Farmingdale State College. The deliveries support the Brookhaven Youth Bureau’s INTERFACE Winter Coat Drive, which provides cold-weather clothing to children and families across the town.

Brookhaven Science Associates employees who work at Brookhaven National Laboratory brought approximately 280 winter coats to Town Hall on January 28, along with scarves, hats and gloves. BNL Manager of Environmental and Community Engagement Amy Engel and staff member William McPherson were welcomed by Councilman Neil Manzella, Town Clerk Kevin LaValle, INTERFACE Coordinator Josephine Lunde and Councilman Michael Loguercio, Brookhavenny reported. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico commented on the effort, saying, "This delivery by Brookhaven Science Associates’ employees will help the Youth Bureau fulfill its mission of providing the gift of warmth to residents throughout Brookhaven Town," and, "Their initiative and compassion speak volumes about their commitment to helping neighbors in need."

The following day, on January 29, members of Farmingdale State College’s Kappa Sigma Fraternity added approximately 30 winter coats they had collected and also raised funds to further support children and families in need throughout the town. No individual fraternity members were named in the community coverage, but the campus contribution supplemented the employee-driven collection at Town Hall.

Taken together, the donations represent roughly 310 coats and an array of cold-weather accessories entering the INTERFACE drive. The scale of the deliveries underscores a pattern of local public-private cooperation in Brookhaven - corporate and laboratory staff collaborating with municipal social services, and college students mobilizing peers to address immediate household needs during winter months.

For residents, the immediate impact is practical: more warm clothing available for distribution through the Youth Bureau’s INTERFACE program. For local officials and civic groups, the campaign demonstrates how employer-based giving and student volunteerism can relieve seasonal pressure on municipal assistance programs. Community photos from the deliveries are listed under image assets titled "Brookhaven Science Associates Winter Coat Drive Donations 1" and "Brookhaven Science Associates Winter Coat Drive Donations 2" and may be available through town communications.

Brookhaven Youth Bureau staff and INTERFACE coordinators will determine distribution logistics and eligibility, and residents should monitor town announcements for pickup or referral information. The recent donations show Brookhaven organizations stepping up to meet winter needs and suggest similar partnerships could be a model for future relief efforts.