Third grader Payton Lewis, who launched the recycling initiative Payton’s Planet in the Copiague School District in 2019, came back to Copiague on June 19 to continue to give back to those in need. Payton’s Planet recycling pails are located in the faculty lounges at the Copiague Middle School and Deauville Gardens West Elementary School and in the hallway at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School. The pails encourage faculty and staff to recycle their bottles and cans. Lewis, along with his mother Shakira, pick up the bottles each Friday. 

Payton and his family moved out of the Copiague School District but still wanted to donate to the district’s food pantry and help members of the community. His recycling initiative in the district’s schools allowed him to raise close to $100, which he used to buy groceries to donate the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Eagle’s Harvest food pantry.