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Community Corner

Northeast Queens High School Kids Caught Doing Good

Students from QHST Raise Funds to Help Rebuild Homes in New Orleans Still Left Devestated by Katrina.

The Queens High School of Teaching (QHST) in Glen Oaks is on a mission to “catch kids doing good” said Senior Advisor Gina Valenze, as the school plans its third annual Pasta and Prizes fundraiser for Habit For Humanity.

The money raised will give students the opportunity to build homes for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans as well as less privileged families in select communities throughout New York.

Valenze, who has been with Habitat For Humanity for eight years, has been working diligently since October to plan the fundraiser event along with the help of Spark Counselor Bessie Orciuolo, Secretary Angie Buchalski and a group of nearly 50 students, grades nine through 12 grade. The event will take place on February 4.

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“We are trying to help people who are hardworking who do not have favorable places to raise their children,”Valenze said.

In order to meet their goal of $3,000, each student who participates in the Habitat For Humanity club is asked to help raise funds through family members, friends, employers and co-workers. Nanny carts filled with home baked goods and sandwiches are also trolleyed around by students throughout the school year during lunch and free periods.

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According to Valenze, it costs between $850 and $900 per person to go to New Orleans each year. This includes travel, lodging and food for a week for each person. A small portion of the funds earned at Pasta and Prizes, goes toward paying for the trip.

Parents are also asked to contribute a certain amount of money for travel costs. Due to economic hardships, many students were unable to commit to the required amount. So, this year, the group will not be able to travel to New Orleans.

But this did not stop the eager and dedicated group of students and staff members. The group has decided to work with the city on certain Habitat for Humanity sites throughout the five boroughs to help those in need right here at home.

They have already earned approximately $1,250 that will be donated to the city at the fundraiser to pay for building materials to be used by students at city-based work sites.

The students unanimously agreed that the additional money earned at the Pasta and Prizes fundraiser will be sent to New Orleans.

As volunteers, each student spends a significant portion of their day building, hammering, priming and painting homes for the less fortunate. During the past two years, the students of QHST have completed seven new homes in New Orleans.

“Having kids understand that they are so special and so powerful in and of themselves, that they can make a positive change in the world, is our goal,” Valenze said. “If we can give them some kind of vehicle to give them confidence to understand that they have that capability - maybe we can drop that one little droplet of gold into their lives. That’s what we are trying to do.”

The Pasta for Prizes fundraiser will be held at the QHST campus at 74-20 Commonwealth Blvd at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Coordinators have promised plenty of food, extravagant desert tables, prizes and games for all. The fundraiser is open to the public.

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