(From left) UNAYO Executive Director Sonji Crawford-Clark, Babylon Town Clerk Gerry Compitello, Councilman Terrence McSweeney, Councilman DuWayne Gregory, Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez, Councilman Anthony Manetta and SCWA CEO Jeffrey W. Szabo present the new hydration station for students and staff at United North Amityville Youth Organization as students (and siblings) Zirailianna, Zuriyalaree, and Zakari-Kai Telfer refill their bottles.
The Suffolk County Water Authority and the Town of Babylon this week unveiled a hydration station for the United North Amityville Youth Organization designed to reduce the waste of plastic water bottles and raise public awareness about the safe and constantly tested public water supply.
Town Council Members Antonio Martinez, Terence McSweeney, Anthony Manetta, DuWayne Gregory and Town Clerk Gerry Compitello joined SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey W. Szabo in presenting the reusable water bottle refilling station to UNAYO Executive Director Sonji Crawford-Clark.
"We are so proud to join forces with the Town of Babylon to get this hydration station put in for the students here,” said SCWA Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey W. Szabo. “Our mission at the Water Authority is to provide a safe and reliable supply of drinking water for all our residents, but we also want to do our part to help create a more sustainable Suffolk. Anytime we can make a difference for the community’s youth, that makes it even more special.”
In the short time since the hydration station was installed, UNAYO students have already saved nearly 400 plastic water bottles by refilling their reusable bottles instead.
“On behalf of Supervisor Rich Schaffer and the rest of the Town Board, I would like to thank the Suffolk County Water Authority for its generous donation of a hydration station to the United North Amityville Youth Organization,” Babylon Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez said. “The Town of Babylon is proud to stand with the SCWA in commitment to ensuring everyone in the Town of Babylon has access to clean water. This station will not only provide filtered water, but also promote the use of reusable water bottles to our youth as we work to reduce our environmental footprint.”
UNAYO is a not-for-profit afterschool center for students’ Pre-K-12. Their programs are administered by minimal paid staff and a majority of committed volunteers. The organization is sponsored in part by Suffolk County, the Town of Babylon Youth Bureau, and the New York State Office for Children and Families.
The Suffolk County Water Authority is an independent public-benefit corporation operating under the authority of the Public Authorities Law of the State of New York. Serving approximately 1.2 million Suffolk County residents, the Authority operates without taxing power on a not-for-profit basis.