By: Jason Scheer
Allison Kreuzer, a junior at the high school, was saddened by the devastation she saw on television over the winter break. One news story in particular hit her hard. A man was searching for his sister, who had been carried away by the waves. "I thought it was horrible, just horrible, that all these innocent people lost their lives," Kreuzer said. When winter recess ended, she was eager to help out. She wasn't alone.
Rob Bellinger, a social studies teacher at Baldwin High who, along with fellow teacher Kim Johnston, Vice Principal Linda Kellner and other members of the social studies department, quickly realized how serious students were about lending a helping hand. "When we came back [from break], people just kept asking, 'What can we do?'" Bellinger said. Steven DeLuccia, a social studies teacher and advisor of this year's senior class, echoed Bellinger's sentiments. "The students were concerned - they were asking us what kind of activities they could start," DeLuccia said.
Students at the high school began selling paper globes for $1. The goal, Bellinger said, was to surpass $2,000. "We reached $2,000 within two weeks," he said, "And people are still donating."
Every day, student volunteers manned a table in the high school lobby. When a globe was sold, the purchaser's name was written on it, and it was hung in the school window to help show just how far students' dollars could go. "We hung them [to illustrate] that dollars do add up," Bellinger said.
Members of the staff and student body will meet in the coming weeks to decide what organizations to donate to. One idea being discussed is using the money to rebuild schools. Bellinger cited an American Federation of Teachers study that found that 10,000 educators had either been killed, injured or displaced due to the disaster. "As a community of students and teachers, we know that it's extremely necessary to rebuild the schools," Bellinger said. "So we want to help out a community that's like our own."
DeLuccia believes that no matter what good causes the money inevitably funds, the tsunami fund-raising efforts typify the giving nature of Baldwin students. "It's part of what we try to instill in our students: the idea of the community, and helping out those both inside and outside of our community," he said.
Senior class president Laura LaBianca said she was proud of the student body for recognizing the need overseas and for doing something about it.
Giving at every age
Concern for South Asia wasn't just limited to the high school. Students in each of the district schools have shown concern for tsunami victims. Every school has contributed to relief funds, each in a unique way, but all with a lot of heart.
In the middle school, the National Junior Honor Society is holding a candle sale, with proceeds going to the relief effort. A sixth-grade team also held a bake sale that took in more than $350 in one day. Club 121, a community service organization, is raising funds as well.
The Student Council in Brookside Elementary School organized a lunch fund-raiser on Jan. 26, and will hold a cultural fashion show this spring. Proceeds from both events will be sent to tsunami relief charities.
The Lenox Elementary School Student Council collected donations at its family fun night in January. Students are also planning a "Reel to Heal, Lenox Cinema" event for Feb. 16. Donations will be collected at the door. Student Council members will act as ushers. All proceeds from both events will go to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Meadow Elementary School raised $1,271 in five days, and the money was sent immediately to relief efforts in Sri Lanka. Additional funds are still being collected, and will be donated to UNICEF. Milburn Elementary School students raised funds to buy UNICEF's school-in-a-box kits. Even with a student body of only 147, Milburn students still raised $880.
Students at Plaza Elementary School are volunteering their time and effort to collect donations for the American Red Cross. Shubert Elementary School students crafted green ribbons for $2. Students and teachers are wearing their ribbons in support of tsunami relief efforts. The color green was chosen because it is Shubert's school color, and because it represents the earth and things that grow from it. The funds will go to the Habitat for Humanity International Asia Tsunami Response Fund.
Students at Steele Elementary School organized a coin collection. Members of the Student Council brought in cans and labeled them "tsunami coin drive." They have become depositories for students' contributions of coins up to $1. The third grade also held a bake sale. The proceeds of both efforts will be pooled for distribution to relief efforts.
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
