No. 16 Vol. 6
www.mypaperonline.com
June 2018
Caldwell Students Help Build Houses, Raised Thousands For Habitat For Humanity
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By Dawn M. Chiossi n a district wide event, the students of Caldwell schools continued to make a difference in the lives of others. On April 28 they enthusiastically participated in their first ever Habitat for Humanity wall build project. Shelter, home, security, love, and nurture: These are all words that can describe a house and home. Having a house isn’t something people in general think about much, until they cannot afford one. More than 125 students and staff swarmed to James Caldwell High School to construct the four walls of a house that is slated to go to a mother named Vanessa and her four year old son from Ocean County. For months, the students of Caldwell have been eagerly putting their spirit into the project, and this is only the first phase of this remarkable act of kindness. Thanks to their deep caring, infectious enthusiasm, and determination. they raised $6,198 for this great cause, exceed-
ing their goal of $3,500. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable housing to those in need. Jeannie Gerdy, second grade teacher at Washington Elementary School, and one of the visionaries and facilitators of this event, states that the Habitat for Humanity Organization is a “hand up, not a hand out.” In fact, it is something that goes full circle: For every person that profits from the organization, they also have a responsibility to pay it forward. Gerdy explains that whoever receives a house from Habitat for Humanity also has to give back to the organization as well in some way. Some help build homes for others, some work in the office, some work behind the scenes. Gerdy is so enthusiastic regarding helping others obtain homes, she tells that Habitat for Humanity is a cause that is close to her heart. Involved with Habitat for Humanity along with her brother Tom Gerdy and a number of volunteers, for approximately 10 years, she affectionately re-
fers to their participation as “The Habitat Road Trip Crazies.” Originally there was a core group of six. And thanks to the efforts of these amazing people, they can put up their walls in the span of a weekend. She mentions that the idea for the Caldwell Students to get involved with the organization was a year in the making, and one that everyone couldn’t wait to get started on. “Everyone just jumped on board,” Gerdy shares. That excitement even extended to those in the elementary schools, to the middle schools and the high school, everyone seemed to want to raise funds giving their helping hands to this wonderful cause. Suddenly this core group of six extended to many, many more. So many in Caldwell made donations, put their names and caring messages for the family on the wall studs, and participated in any way they could. continued on page 4