These teenagers can’t wait to take to the road and do what they can to help others enjoy a better life. Huntington High School’s Habitat for Humanity club is set to travel to Novato, California outside of San Francisco and New Orleans to help build homes for families in need.
The club is led by Christi Reinertsen (president), Noelle Harvey (vice president), Gabriella DeLuca (treasurer) and Grace Curran (secretary). It includes dozens of members.
The Huntington School Board approved the two upcoming trips during a public meeting of trustees last Monday night in the Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School auditorium.
As many as 20 club members are expected to participate in the trip to California, which will stretch from February 19-25 and be led by faculty advisor and chapter founder Robert Gilmor III. The group will assist with a project to build 10 single family homes at Mount Burdell Place, which is Habitat Greater San Francisco’s newest development. It’s a transit-oriented development within walking distance of downtown Novato.
About 20 club members are expected to trek to New Orleans from April 9-15 to help with ongoing reconstruction efforts there after the city was devastated more than 11 years ago by Hurricane Katrina. Huntington Habitat is well known in New Orleans after having traveled there many times over the past decade.
“Everyone is very excited about continuing our mission to assist in the rebuilding of New Orleans,” Mr. Gilmor said. “They are also very excited to embark on assisting in the building of a future home in Novato, California. Our hope is to make it to Tennessee in the near future, but because of our timing, their work schedule cannot accommodate us at this time.”
Huntington Habitat typically travels out of state during vacation periods so students don’t miss any class time. The teenagers volunteer for the work and pay their own way.
Huntington Habitat is also busy right here on Long Island. It donated $20,000 to help fund construction of a house for high school security guard Miss Youlanda Carey, a disabled U.S. Army veteran who has gone on builds with Huntington Habitat.
“Over the last two weekends and with the addition of the upcoming weekend the officers continue the building efforts in Ronkonkoma to assist in completing Ms. Youlanda’s home,” Mr. Gilmor said. “They are more eager than ever to complete her home and watch her move in.”
