Schools

Saint Augustine Students Reach Out to Help Families in Haiti

Students raise $600 to help pay for water purification system in nation still a long way from recovery after earthquake a year ago.

Students from Saint Augustine School in New City have reached out to help the people of Haiti meet some basic needs — like safe drinking water — as efforts continue to recover from the earthquake that devastated Haiti last year.

Saint Augustine students learned about the conditions in Haiti and recently held a “Hearts for Haiti Day” to raise money for a water purification system in Haiti. Each student wrote a note with their hopes, dreams and prayers for the people of Haiti, which are on display in a collage at the school. 

“’Hearts for Haiti Day’ was especially meaningful for our school, as several of our students have family and friends in Haiti that were affected by the earthquake and are still trying to rebuild their lives,” Principal Katharine Murphy said.

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Safe drinking water continues to be in short supply in Haiti, where families must cope with cholera and dysentery from the contaminated water.

Money raised by Saint Augustine students was donated to the Rockland County Haiti Relief Campaign, a coalition of local Haitian-American organizations. The group is coordinating the purchase, delivery and installation of a water purification system.

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“It is remarkable how little it actually costs to save hundreds of lives,” Murphy said.

Reynold Julien, chairman Rockland County Haiti Relief Campaign, visited St. Augustine’s on Friday to meet with students, see the collage and accept a donation of $600. 


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