By Erica Jackson
If anyone wants to know what the term community outreach means, just talk to Debbie Virga of Commack.
Senator Flanagan Honors Commack Resident Debbie Virga As His 2009 Woman of Distinction She has taken her part-time job as a community outreach specialist for Commack Schools and amplified it one hundred percent.
Over the past several years, Virga has been involved in numerous community service projects that get local students excited about being active members of the community.
Burr Intermediate School Students Commack School DistrictMost recently Virga, held her 7th annual Support the Troops Campaign, collecting boxes upon boxes of goods for service men and women, who are oversees.
“There are so many men and women who are serving who don’t get any packages. These people often come from poorer parts of the country,” said Virga.
Like she has so many times before, Virga stepped up to the plate and started a collection campaign. She contacted Home Depot, which donated boxes to serve as collection bins at each of Commack’s schools. Students then got to work, collecting items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, socks, foot powder, and shaving cream— all the essentials.
The students also wrote cards and letters and put together photos to send to individual service men and women.“We had a tremendous day of collections,” said Virga.
Over the years, Virga working with the Commack School District collected over 2,500 boxes worth of supplies. Virga said that everything that was collected this year will be mailed out this week thanks to a Queens-based marine detachment unit.
“It is very expensive to mail everything,” said Virga. “This group said as long as we collect the supplies they will do the mailing.” Aside from the annual Support the Troops drive, Virga says she has conducted sock drives for the troops, as well as collections specific to female soldiers. “We sometimes forget how important it is to send items to the women serving,” said Vira, who noted that in the past she has collected deodorants and tampons for women serving.
Virga has also taken responsibility for the Commack School District and community September 11 memorial event, which has been held every year on September 11 since the Twin Towers fell nine years ago. The 
memorial brings the community together to remember all those who lost their lives on September 11 including civilians, military members and first responders, who are now suffering health ailments because of their work at Ground Zero.
With this year’s support the troops event and September 11 memorial behind her, Virga is set to commence a new project that aims to raise money for wounded warriors. “I am trying to put something together now,” said Virga. Supporting troops oversees is something near and dear to her heart. With three sons, she said she is thankful for the service men and women who have volunteered for the military.
“Their decision to volunteer gives my sons a choice,” said Virga. “I am so thankful to the men and women in the armed forces. It is amazing the amount of commitment they have.”
Aside from her work for the armed forces, Virga has worked on humanitarian projects, such as raising funds for Hurricane Katrina victims. She has also put together programs to raise funds for the Commack Educational Foundation, which provides scholarships to students. She has held prom dress drives and put together senior citizen programs where students volunteer to rake leaves and shovel snow for those that need help.
“I just come up with these ideas,” said Virga, who doesn’t show any signs of stopping her efforts anytime soon. “I just love this community.” “This has become a full-time job.”
Prior to serving as the Commack School District’s community outreach coordinator, Vira was a stay-at-home mom, volunteering her time for various PTA organizations, which she is still involved in even though her children are now grown. She was employed as the head of personnel for JC Penny prior to having children.