Way to Go: Jaylan Umana, Island Park

Through service projects and fundraisers, Jaylan Umana has shown he cares about his community.

The seventh-grader at Lincoln Orens Middle School in Island Park has led a range of projects the past two years as head of the school's Builders Club, a community service program of Kiwanis International.

The club's biggest effort, he said, was creating dozens of care packages for local victims of superstorm Sandy, which struck Long Island on Oct. 29, 2012. Island Park was among the communities that took a heavy hit.

"It showed we care about the community, and we're all one giant family," he said.

Jaylan, 12, has participated in the club's other efforts, which included raising $700 for UNICEF by requesting donations instead of candy while trick-or-treating on Halloween, and collecting five shopping carts of food before Thanksgiving from students and staff, as well as customers outside a local King Kullen supermarket.

During the Christmas season, club members made about 50 greeting cards for local veterans and senior citizens. And they recently sold painted flower pots and seeds in the school cafeteria to fund 112 tetanus shots, through Kiwanis, for children in need.

Jaylan is co-vice president of his school's Student Council and a member of the National Honor Society. He also is president of the Guitar Club and a member of the chorus and the marching band.