H-ton Habitat for Humanity Club Prepares to Travel

Huntington High School’s Habitat for Humanity club chapter is preparing to travel to New Orleans during the February break to help build needed housing in that city and its outskirts, which have never completely recovered from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

Huntington School Board members approved the overnight field trip during a recent public meeting. The Huntington chapter dates to 2003 when Robert Gilmor III was hired as a high school dean. He organized the club, which included a very energetic and enthusiastic group of young people who helped the group establish a solid footing that has endured.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide organization dedicated to eliminating poverty and homelessness by building housing side-by-side with those in need.

Mr. Gilmor will lead a delegation of as many 15-20 chapter members to New Orleans for the trip, which will stretch from February 15-21. This will be Huntington’s sixteenth trip to help residents of New Orleans. Student interest in the trip is already running high. There is already a waiting list.

During down time the group has tentative plans to enjoy the family fun celebration of a Mardi Gras float parade, visit several area colleges and universities, go on a swamp boat tour and visit the zoo and dine at some well-known spots, including the 112 year old Parkway Bakery.

The organization’s executive board consists of President Olivia Polinsky, Vice President Rylee Davis, Treasurer Charlotte Curtin and Secretary Jessica Maxiner.

Meetings are held on Monday afternoon’s in the School Heritage Museum-Room 140. Member dues are $25. New members are most welcome. The club’s Remind code is badfac4. Its Google Classroom code is mzgrvd2.

Chapter members started fundraising at the start of the new school year and have never stopped. There will be bake sales and cheesecake sales and other money raising initiatives.

A graduate of the College of Wooster in Ohio, Mr. Gilmor earned a Master of Social Work degree at SUNY Stony Brook in 1994. He later obtained certification as a school administrator through Long Island University. He was employed from January 1997 through the summer of 2003 as a social worker in the Elwood School District. He founded Elwood’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.

Since its founding, Huntington High School’s Habitat for Humanity chapter has worked locally, regionally and nationally to accomplish its goals. The group has traveled to cities across the country, helping communities rebuild after being struck by natural disasters.

The Huntington Habitat club welcomes new members of any grade level. It also hopes to receive community support and even corporate sponsorship. Interested in joining the campaign to make the world a better place? Send a message to Mr. Gilmor at rgilmor@hufsd.edu.