Lindenhurst school community helps victims of Hurricane Katrina

In times of devastation, loss, or need, the Lindenhurst school community has a strong tradition of pitching in to help. Whether it is through volunteering time or raising money through creative fundraisers. So when Hurricane Katrina ripped through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama just as the school year got underway, Lindenhurst students immediately began thinking of ways to help out the people in need.

At Lindenhurst High School, students in Richard Caravaggio and Sam Moxon’s peer leadership classes established the highly imaginative "Dunk-a-Dean" event. During the "Dunk-a-Dean" fundraiser, the deans of Lindenhurst High School, in charge of discipline throughout the school, sat as targets in the dunk-tank, as students paid $2 for a chance to send them flying into a pool of icy water. Principal Dan Giordano, as well as other high school teachers and administrators, took turns in the tank. While some students sought revenge on their administrators, the event had a greater purpose: all money raised was donated to family of a retired teacher, whose family lost everything in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

A total of $1,208 was raised through "Dunk-a-Dean." Moxon stated, "I am really proud of the peer leadership students. They pulled this together in a short period of time and it has been really successful."

In addition to "Dunk-a-Dean," 120 freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity football players held a "Walk-a-Thon" on September 11 on the track of the middle school. The event was a tremendous success, with the Lindenhurst Bulldogs raising $5,143 for the hurricane victims. Furthermore, Lindenhurst High School is collecting donations for Habitat for Humanity to be used in the rebuilding effort.

At Lindenhurst Middle School, t-shirts and Lindy Pride bracelets are being sold, with all profits going to the American Red Cross. And at the elementary level, all seven schools have taken action to help Katrina victims.

Alleghany Avenue and Harding Avenue Elementary Schools held a supply and clothing drive during their Meet-the-Teacher nights. Parents flooded the lobby and cafeteria with donations, from boxes of clothes to piles of non-perishable food items. The amount donated was so large that Hillside/United Van Lines was called in to pick up items and ship them to areas affected. In addition, Alleghany students will soon create personal care kits for the victims, and Harding students are holding a coin drive to raise money for the Red Cross.

At William Rall Elementary School, third-grade teacher Stacey Bressi led a fundraising campaign amongst the faculty, students, and parents to collect money for four families. Daniel Street Elementary School and West Gates Avenue Elementary School are both conducting a "Helping Hands" campaign, where parents, students, and faculty can purchase a "Helping Hand" to be displayed with the donator’s name throughout the buildings.

At E.W. Bower Elementary School, the student government sponsored a supply drive for items needed in the gulf coast area. Students are also looking into selling "Katrina Relief" bracelets.

Nothing exemplifies "Lindy Pride" better than the efforts of our school children to help in times of need. Thank you to all students, faculty, staff, and community members for your support.

Shown in the top photo, members of Caravaggio and Moxon’s peer leadership classes pose before the dunk tank, featuring Principal Dan Giordano, at the "Dunk-a-Dean" event.

Shown in the bottom , are students at Alleghany Avenue Elementary School donating food items for Katrina victims. From left to right are Julianna Manceri, Dana Manceri, and Nunzi Thomas.