Elmont school district springs into action

Elmont School district — from kindergardeners through high school seniors — is getting in on the giving act, and making sure to help their Haitian friends and family in need.

The school district mobilized immediately in the wake of last week’s natural disaster, with students in Elmont’s seven school buildings all bringing in donations, putting together hundreds of pounds and thousands of dollars worth of aid.

According to the office of Assemblyman Tom Alfano (R-North Valley Stream) more than 40 barrels filled with donated clothing and 50 barrels filled with clothing and medical supplies had been collected through the schools in less than a week of collecting.

Further, previously empty classrooms at all six area elementary schools were full to the rafters with donated items prepared to be shipped.

“The effort so far has been extraordinary,” said Elmont Memorial High School Principal John Capozzi. “We’re really making a difference.”

Jasmine Delva, 15, a sophomore at Elmont Memorial High School, said everyone in the school knows exactly where to go to drop off charitable donations. She said the students take pride in giving as much as they can.

“I myself donated a few things, and my parents, my mom, my aunt, and I just feel like it’s very important to do that — it’s a catastrophe, it’s very saddening,” she said.

Christine Duchatelier, a senior at Elmont Memorial High School, has watched her father David work practically around the clock to help gather donations and prepare them for shipment to Haiti. She said that while the events were tragic, it felt good knowing that so many people were moved enough to contribute through their schools.

“It’s nice to see that everybody can come together as one in order to help people who are in need,” she said. “

During last week’s press conference, a number of Elmont high school students and former students spoke about their goals for their donations. Vladimir Crevecoeur, a SUNY Stonybrook student who graduated from Elmont Memorial High School said he was encouraged by how quickly and generously the people of Elmont responded to the crisis.

“It shows the strength in our community for us to come together like this,” Crevecoeur said. “It shows that the saying on the Haitian flag is true: ‘L’Union Fait La Force’ which means ‘unity makes strength. We’ve done well so far I think, but I hope we don’t just settle for building Haiti to the way it was, I hope we help to build it better than it was before.”

Crevecoeur said he felt the loss that had afflicted the country personally, as he had lost family members in the quake, and was not in contact with everyone he knew in Haiti.

Bishop Fernando Rodriguez, a local clergyman who was scheduled to fly to Haiti on Monday to aid in the relief effort, said he was taken aback by how strong the response was on behalf of students in the community.

“This effort ... is truly moving,” he said. “The young people out there have no idea the impact they will have on a child [in Haiti.]”

Rasheeda Rhodes, a junior at Elmont, donated a blanket through her school with some well wishes for whoever receives it.

“It feels good to help others,” Rhodes said. “I want this blanket to comfort someone who really needs it right now.”