Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

COLLEGE KIDS TOIL FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE

Members of Wagner's Habitat for Humanity help prepare housing

Monday, October 03, 2005

By DOUG AUER

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

Rather than join the droves of 20-somethings hitting Manhattan to party during the weekend, eight students from Wagner College ventured into the city that never sleeps to help pack up pre-fabricated houses destined for families displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The students -- all members of the college's Habitat for Humanity chapter -- joined forces with other volunteers early Saturday morning in an effort organized by Habitat for Humanity International, NBC-TV's "Today" show, and Warner Music Group, to help rebuild the battered Gulf Coast region.

"It's just so gratifying to be able to help," said Katherine Smith, 19, president and founder of the chapter. Formed only three weeks ago at the Grymes Hill campus, the group remarkably has 161 students signed up, she said.

When Ms. Smith heard about the around-the-clock build, which started last Monday in Rockefeller Plaza and featured celebrity appearances and music concerts, she contacted a Brooklyn affiliate of Habitat for Humanity to see how her group could lend a few hands.

Showing a willingness to do whatever necessary, whenever necessary, Ms. Smith and seven fellow members were given a time slot of 1 to 5 a.m. on Saturday.

"I told them we'd take any time," she said. "We just really wanted to help."

Arriving shortly before 12:30 a.m. at the renamed "Humanity Plaza" and decked out in jeans and a colorful array of Wagner College sweatshirts were Ms. Smith, Mick White, Brittany O'Neil, Stephanie DiTirro, Frank Pfisterer, Chris Mustakas, Michelle Cunningham and Steven Tarca.

ENTIRE HOUSES

Joined by about 20 other volunteers of varying ages from all walks of life, including one young man still wearing a suit and tie, the group stretched out and got to work loading stacks of pre-fabricated walls into a tractor trailer.

Each stack represented the wood framings of an entire house, dubbed "houses in a box," which can be assembled and ready-to-live-in in a matter of days, said crew leader Mike Candan, a longtime Habitat for Humanity volunteer from Bayville, LI.

Scrawled on the first stack that Wagner's volunteers lifted: "NY Loves all the Katrina victims."

"They're awesome," said Candan, as he watched the eight college kids tirelessly load the trailer, one wall after the next. "Like a big shot of adrenaline."

Operating like a well-oiled machine, one volunteer checked that each wall was carefully coded, designating its placement during the house's assembly, as others hoisted the frame into the air. Then, depending on the wall's size, anywhere from one to a dozen volunteers would carry the frame to the waiting tractor trailer.

"The main walls with the door frames can get pretty heavy," remarked Mustakas, a 19-year-old sophomore at Wagner.

After handing the walls over to more volunteers standing in the trailer, each piece was placed upright and packed tight for the southbound journey.

SOME SPECTATORS

Stragglers making their way home through the Plaza after a night on the town couldn't help but stop and watch the unusual sight of wood frames being carried through a plaza surrounded by buildings made of steel girders.

"We're just checking out the sights this weekend, and that's part of the cool stuff we're seeing," said Chris McCown of West Palm Beach, Fla. He and two friends who had flown in for a buddy's bachelor party nodded their heads in admiration and approval as Wagner's contingent of volunteers carried over yet another wall. "That's just awesome."

By 3 a.m., the eight Wagner students and 20 other volunteers had loaded the equivalent of three houses into the tractor trailer.

Following the packing of loose wood and some tools, the tractor trailer was off -- one of many due to arrive in various Gulf Coast communities today, according to Habitat for Humanity's Web site.

The "Today" show will mark the installations with a special broadcast performance on Channel 4.

"You never feel gratification the way you do when you build someone a home and give them shelter," said Ms. Smith.

Their work done, she and the seven others departed the Plaza just before 4 a.m., strolling over to Eighth Avenue with two new friends -- volunteers Jeff Piacentile and Devon Brockington, both 21 and of Manhattan -- while searching for a place to grab some breakfast.

After a long night's work, "Pancakes, French toast and eggs [were] the meals of choice," laughed Ms. Smith.

For more information on Wagner College Habitat for Humanity, contact Ms. Smith at her e-mail address, ksmith@wagner.edu.

To give a donation, make checks payable to Wagner College Habitat for Humanity, mailed to Wagner College Habitat for Humanity, c/o Katherine Smith, 1 Campus Rd., Staten Island, N.Y., 10301.

Administration

Wagner College has offered to match any funds donated to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort by our campus community. The College will match any contribution received from the faculty, staff and/or administration, up to a total of $7,500.00. The College will match any student contributions up to $2,500.00. The matching program will begin immediately and continue through 2005.

The College has opened a special Hurricane Katrina account at the Reynolds House to receive donations. Gifts from any member of the Wagner College community can see Donna Sinagra, Secretary to the Development Office (and Parent of Danielle, Class of '09) on the First Floor of Reynolds House. She can receive gifts via check, credit card or payroll deduction (forms available in the office).

All of the money collected through this account will be donated to our sister school, Dillard University. Dillard University and Wagner are both members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ELCA and is located in the heart of the City of New Orleans. Dillard University is also a member, along with Wagner, of Project Pericles.

* * * * * * * * * *

Faculty

Dr. Lawrence Nolan, Psychologist & former resident of New Orleans

Dr. John Esser, Sociologist

Dr. Wade Hudson, Economist

Will conduct a panel on various aspects of, and misinformation surrounding, the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. How is the media representing (or misrepresenting) New Orleans? What are the economic implications of this disaster? What class and race issues are surfacing in the wake of it?

Wednesday, Sept 21st @ 11:30

Room: SPIRO 2

* * * * * * * * * *

Students/Organizations

Mitch Sims is heading up the combined relief efforts. All involved clubs/organizations are raising money for the Humane Society Disaster Relief Fund, Americares, and Habitat for Humanity.

Contact: msims@wagner.edu

Listed below are the Clubs/Organizations already participating in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts:

Project Pericles

Promising Student Society

Wagner Music Society

Finance Club

Amnesty International

Wagner Christian Fellowship

Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society

Commuter Students Association

Xtreme Sports Club

Theta Chi

Pre-Health Society

Pep Band

ODK

Kappa Sigma Alpha

Wagner Campus Activities Board

SGA

Habitat for Humanity

Theatre Department

Mardi Gras Dance in honor of the Victims of Hurricane Katrina: hosted by Music Society; date note official yet but flyers will be posted soon. A minimum donation of $1 will be taken at the door. We would like other clubs and organizations to help with this shindig.

Contact: msims@wagner.edu, Mitch Sims

Blood Drive – Sept. 27 and 28, coordinated through Co-Curricular Programs office.