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| September 5, 2008 |
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MARY ST. PIERRE | FC Students bring shirt drive to public schoolsORLANDO | When Connie Heiselman, Spanish teacher at Boone High School here, read about Florida Catholic’s Long-Sleeve Relief drive, she immediately knew her students would be interested in participating. “Kids always are looking to earn community service hours,” said Heiselman, sponsor of the school’s Spanish Club. “They need to perform community service to qualify for Spanish Honor Society and, in part, for the Bright Futures Scholarship.” Heiselman presented the idea to the students at a recent Spanish Club meeting. “They thought it was terrific,” she said. The drive runs through Holy Thursday, March 20. Organizations and individuals statewide are invited to collect donations of used, clean, long-sleeve cotton shirts for distribution to farmworkers, who wear them to protect their arms while working in the fields. This is the third year the Florida Catholic has coordinated the drive and the first time, as far as organizers know, it has generated on-campus participation in public schools. Students are collecting shirts in at least five public schools in the Orlando Diocese. The need is great. Heiselman’s Spanish Club members were surprised to learn that a farmworker earned as little as 45 cents for picking as much as 32 pounds of tomatoes. Others never considered the dangers of sun exposure, pesticides and thorns. After learning of the hazards, the students instantly went to work. The “Shirt Off Your Back” project, as Heiselman tagged it, took on a life of its own. “We made flyers and gave them to people in the Spanish Club,” said Kristine Ajapahyan, a junior at Boone and treasurer of the Spanish Club, which lists more than 100 members. “We asked them to tell their friends about it. We taped flyers around classrooms and included information in our morning announcements.” Immediately, Kristine’s dad donated shirts. “My parents thought it was interesting,” she said. “They had never heard of anything like that before and they were definitely willing to help.” Jessica Fernandez, also a junior and Spanish Club member, is excited about the drive. “I think it’s really important to focus on local things and help out people right here in Florida,” she said. Jessica, who believes in the ease and usefulness of this project, donated several shirts. “It’s really surprising to know the difference a shirt could make for someone working in the fields,” said Morgan Knox, a junior and a Spanish Club member. “I didn’t know that pesticides could make them sick. I never thought about all this until we started the project.” Morgan is spreading the word. She posted a flyer at the preschool where her mother works. “We’re spreading it out to the community so everyone could be involved,” she said. “It’s important for me and my family to contribute because it’s something so small and we can benefit these people more than we think.” “They’re not making a lot of money, so farmworkers are focusing on food and supporting their families,” Morgan said. “It’s really surprising to know the difference a shirt could make. It’s amazing that we can give something from the back of our closets that will help these people.” Other public schools enlisted following Boone’s participation in the Long-Sleeve Relief drive. Winter Park, Dr. Phillips and Evans high schools and Glenridge Middle School are collecting shirts to be donated to the farmworkers. “This year the drive has gotten so much bigger,” said Mary St. Pierre, who coordinates the effort as parish services manager of the Florida Catholic. “It has gone beyond Catholic schools and parishes into other organizations and the public sector. Here’s something we have (shirts) that we can provide to those who need it. We’re all in this together. That’s really what it’s all about.” Donated shirts are piling up at Boone High School. Soon there will be folding, packing and delivering responsibilities to be handled. Heiselman, a member of St. James Parish in Orlando, is proud of the work of her students. “I’m glad for the chance to highlight the good things these kids are doing,” she said.
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