The Breezy Point Star: Ten-year-old Bay Ridge girl spends her free time helping the less fortunate

Ten-year-old Bay Ridgeite Julianna Bambina gives back to the less fortunate in several ways. A fifth-grade student at P.S./I.S. 229, the Dyker School, 1400 Benson Avenue, Bambina is a member of the Bay Ridge Lemonade Coalition, gave back during the Bay Ridge Community Council’s Children’s Book and Pajama Party, and more. She also has a tons of hobbies, such as dancing and fashion design. Most of all, she draw her inspiration from her mother on giving back.

Can you talk about some of the community service that you do to help others?

The first thing that I do is the Bay Ridge Lemonade Coalition. We help the Reaching-Out Community Service food pantry and we use the money that we get from selling the lemonade to help people who don’t have food.

We also sell cards for different events and we design them and print them out so they’re personally made by us and we sell them. The money also goes to the families in need.

We also hung up posters for the pajamas and children’s book donation drive that took place on Saturday and a lot of people donated books, pajamas and games for children. We were giving books and pajamas to kids that have cancer and don’t feel great.

At school, I do monitoring too. During our lunch period, we eat, then I go up and help the teachers with papers and filing. Anything the teachers need us to do, we will do it.

How does giving back make you feel?

It makes me feel great because it’s about caring and you’re helping others that need it and so you could give them what they don’t have.

I love [helping my school] especially because you get a better connection with the teachers.

What are your favorite subjects and hobbies?

I love reading and writing. I like reading stories because I feel that I have a connection with the characters. You feel like you’re in the story and you go on an adventure with them.

I love to sew. I go to sewing classes. I want to sew outfits and sell them and be a fashion designer.

I dance a lot. I’ve been doing it since I was two. I do all different styles. I perform in recitals and I go to New Jersey for competitions. I like every style because they give me a different feeling.

Who are your role models?

I kind of want to be like my mom and help out more and become a part of the community and help others. She teaches me that the goodness you put out always comes back.

Brought to you courtesy of the Breezy Point Surf Club (718-634-2500; nybreezypoint.com) and the Silver Gull Beachclub (718-634-1500; nysilvergull.com).