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A Few Clouds Clarke H.S. students were honored by the Red Cross
Two students volunteered during Hurricane Irene
Long Island Red Cross and Senator Kemp Hannon recognized Jason Dunleavy and Yash Shah, W.T. Clarke High School students, at a Red Cross Club meeting on Dec. 15 for volunteering at the Nassau Community College evacuation center as Hurricane Irene hit Long Island last August.
“It was a beautiful Friday and I was at the beach with my friends,” Dunleavy remembered. However, a few hours later, the co-president of the Red Cross Club realized volunteers might be needed during the storm and called to see how he could help.
Dunleavy was assigned to the evacuation shelter at NCC and worked throughout the night with four other volunteers to set up 4,000 cots. He went home for a few hours and when he returned at 3 p.m., the shelter was full. “What do you mean?” he asked another volunteer. “I set up 4,000 cots last night.”
Dunleavy sent a message out on Facebook to recruit more volunteers and Shah saw the post.
“I think we got six hours of sleep the whole time,” said Shah, “but you don’t even have time to think about it because it’s not a priority.”
The two young men helped provide food, shelter and emotional support to thousands of Long Islanders who stayed at the shelter during and immediately after Irene hit.
Sixteen-year-old Dunleavy said that volunteering at the shelter really put things into perspective. “You really start to respect what you have,” he said. “That’s something I really want to do in my future.” He is considering a career as an emergency-room doctor.
Fifteen-year-old Shah was involved in community service before joining the Red Cross, but said nothing compared to volunteering at the shelter. “I didn’t think people could be affected this much. It’s one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had,” he said.
After Dunleavy and Shah accepted their awards they shared a PowerPoint and hands-on presentation with their fellow Red Cross Club members and encouraged the students to volunteer.
“I tell them they run a non-profit organization, and they do,” said club advisor Shari Zimmerman.
The Red Cross Club at W.T. Clarke High School is the most active Red Cross school club on Long Island.
