Members of the Stars and Stripes Club at North and South Clarkstown high schools hosted a Veteran's Day brunch at the West Nyack Firehouse to recognize and empower local veterans.

The festivities included a fundraiser and a food collection drive.

Aanik Keswani, a member of the Stars and Stripes Club, said the occasion was important.

"We come together and we form lots of occasions and events to support these people," Keswani said. "It makes me happy. As kids, this is, like, the least we can do for them to help them out."

The veterans in attendance were also appreciative of the students' efforts.

"That's very nice," U.S. Army veteran Jack Weinberg said. "It's nice that the kids take the time off from school to do this for us."

Many members of the Stars and Stripes Club have parents who are active in the military. The students plan to visit with children whose parents are deployed overseas in the spring.