Local Students Do Their Part to Help

By Marta E. Kane

In the days following the tragedy at the World Trade Center, several local students in the Levittown and Island Trees School Districts looked to do their part to help those in need. Whether setting up donation sites, standing on the side of local roads holding candles and flags or hosting car washes to raise money, students throughout the community came out in full force offering any assistance they could and really made a difference.

Students at Division Avenue High School collaborated to set up a donation site at the Tri County Flea Market parking lot last weekend. They collected a majority of items, including T-shirts, socks, bottled water, goggles, work clothes, tooth brushes and toothpaste. All donations which they collected were taken to the American Red Cross and given to the groups of volunteers helping out at the ground zero site in Manhattan.

The project was put together through a joint effort of the student council, key club and the senior class, as well as other students in the school. Students at the site last weekend, which was set up on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 13 and 14, said that all grade levels were involved in the effort.

"Everyone just wanted to do whatever they could," one student said, "we all just want to help in whatever way we can."

To spread the word that the donation site was available, students handed out flyers up and down Hempstead Turnpike near the site, went around to local stores and placed fliers in the merchants' windows and called several local radio stations asking them to make an announcement.

A Big Brothers/Big Sisters truck was present at the flea market site, which later brought all the donated materials to the American Red Cross. The truck load from Thursday's donations was taken down to another site closer to the city where the materials were sorted and delivered them to the proper areas. Donations collected Friday were taken down the following Monday.

Students at Division also held a car wash last Saturday, Sept. 15 and are hosting another on this Saturday, Sept. 22 , as are students at MacArthur High School. The car washes will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds from the car washes will go to the American Red Cross.

Since the donation sites were set up for only those two days last week, the rear of the Division Avenue High School building was made available for residents to drop off any materials they were unable to get to the flea market site. Donations were also accepted in the main office, promising to get them to the proper place. The students raised over $15,000 and loaded five trucks with donations.

Island Trees High School Principal Victor Longaro said that students at the high school, through the help of resident and parent Chris McCoy, set up a donation site at the school to be delivered to the Red Cross.

"It's amazing, in one day, how many items people brought in," Longaro said.

He added that the school planned to set up an area near the back of the school to allow residents to drop off materials in upcoming days which would later be delivered to the rescue workers.

On Friday, Sept. 14, several students from MacArthur High School were standing outside the "Welcome to Wantagh" sign on Wantagh Avenue, waving flags and holding candles while cheering to passing cars. The students were out there for hours, not seeming affected by the cold, showing their patriotism and support to the community. They were among many local students and residents who could be seen all over Levittown, Wantagh, Island Trees, East Meadow, Seaford and other neighboring communities throughout the weekend holding candle vigils and waving flags.

Students from other local schools, including Abbey Lane Elementary and Stokes Middle School, set up various donation sites all over the community. Students could be seen on street corners selling candy bars, lemonade and iced tea or just with a donation bucket, raising money to help in the rescue effort.

Residents from all over the area have been so proud of local children who are doing all they can to help in this catastrophe. Many had said that these kids aren't being told to do any of this, they simply want to do what's right and help. They are certainly doing wonderful deeds and have more than made a difference.

Editor's Note: Due to the recent holiday, schools were not in session at the time this article was printed. Many school officials were not able to be reached for comment regarding upcoming fund raisers. Please check next week's issue for any further information regarding upcoming car washes or other events hosted by local schools.