Moonachie Matters!

I had never heard of Moonachie prior to Hurricane Sandy.  I imagine most people had never heard of the town of slightly less than 3,000 residents.  But after visiting Moonachie and talking with school officials and residents I came away thinking that this small community is much like many its size in America.

Yes, Moonachie is within eyesight of the Manhatten skyline but it is a town bound together, even prior to the storm, by a strong kinship of 'community.'  The tech director, Mr. Hirsch, of Robert Craig Elementary School has been at the district for nearly forty years.  Only the school board president, Mr. Campbell,  has been there a short time...26 years!!   It is clear that people born in Moonachie stay in Moonachie as do their children and grandchildren.

As we went door to door, these school officials personally knew all the residents we visited.  Amazing!!  When was the last time the school board personnel or teachers in a suburban community, knew people in such an intimate fashion?!

These kind folks made my job of passing out gift cards quite easy as my school personnel hosts were able to identify those most in need of help.  I was left with the impression that each resident, no matter their walk in life, matter to all the other residents.   It is for that reason, Moonachie matters.  Moonachie matters because people matter.

Thanks,
Dick

Images

Trip to Moonachie, NJ

When I entered Moonachie, NJ yesterday it first appeared as though the town didn't get hit as hard as I originally thought.  Boy, was I wrong!!!  The school is closed for the year, Blimpe was the only business open in town and the inside of all the homes I visited were a literal mess.

Fortunately, the garbage by the side of the road has been picked up but, other than that, Moonachie is sorely in need of help.  95% of the cars, which appear to be in running condition, are now junk.  The flood waters - much of it salt water - has fully destroyed the cars, SUV's, vans and trucks.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, will need to get a new or used form of transportation.

As I passed out $100 grocery and Home Depot gift cards to the families of the children who attend Robert Craig Elementary I got a chance to go into the homes of the residents.  Every basement and first floor are in horrible and unliveable condition!!  It is sad!!  Many people live on the second floor as the lower levels can't be lived in.  There are still people without power and I found a couple of homes, three weeks after the hurricane who are keeping warm with a small kerosene heater.

All the appliances are shot, floors torn up, dry wall that is beyond repair and more.  People are doing their best but the hardships will be many.  To a person, the people who got the gift cards were most grateful and want me to pass along their thanks.  Some broke down in tears, knowing that you care about them.  And that's what our trip was about, demonstrating a care for others.

Thanks,
Dick

Moonachie Here We Come!

Tomorrow I will head to Moonachie, NJ to distribute Shop Rite Grocery gift cards and Home Depot gift cards to those school families in dire need of some help.  At this point families are still struggling, in many cases, to clean up, find food and to make repairs to their homes.

Right now the school has plenty of supplies for the children so there is no need for us to bring student resources to Moonachie.  Rather, Mr. Campbell, the President of the School Board, and Mr. Hirsch, the Tech Director, will walk door to door with me to hand out the cards and to extend our best to the families.

We have nearly eighty $100 gift cards to give to deserving families!  These will no doubt raise spirits as the holidays approach!  

I'll be sure to take some photos and talk to the residents and, in turn, get back to you with details of the trip.

Many thanks,
Dick

A Big Day!

Yesterday's Hurricane Sandy donations brought to over $5,000!  I continue to stay in touch with Moonachie, NJ I can tell you that people are still at a loss two weeks after the ravaging storm.  Man of those residing in Queens and Staten Island are still in very tough straits.

We have collected over 225 coats in our annual drive and many, many more are coming in from local schools, clubs and other organizations.  Perhaps your school or work place can collect gloves, mittens, scarves, hats or coats.   We'll gladly pick them up.

A generous donor provided us with an amount of money that will allow us to purchase an additional 50 - 75 coats in the coming days!

We are working with a large corporation to secure some funding to go into Staten Island.  I will keep you in the loop if some funds become available.

Got to run!
Dick

More on CPS Absenteeism

Yesterday I alluded to the Sunday, November 11th Chicago Tribune article that commented on the high rate of absenteeism among K - 8 CPS students.  The story paid particular attention to this troubling situation among African Americans.

On one level the Trib story singled out African Americans but, on the other hand, the story shed a good deal of light on some of the very real causes of missing school.

As the Tribune noted, "Many students lost weeks or even months of class time as their families scrambled from home to home, fleeing foreclosures and debt.  In grades K - 8, poor attendance often stems from factors beyond the schools control or even the child's - chaotic homes, ineffective parents, rising rates of poverty and homelessness."

What I'd like people to understand is that many of the causes of excessive absenteeism are out of the hands of schools and the children.  As such, schools and civic organizations have to step, as best as possible, to help fill the above void.  Schools Count Corp sees that we have a positive role to play in assisting schools, teachers, families and students in order to counteract these out-of-school conditions.

I'm always appreciative of the efforts you put forth to aid this cause.

Thanks,
Dick

Empty Desks

The November 11th edition of the Chicago Tribune reported on the 'empty desk epidemic' in the Chicago Public Schools.  The paper noted that 10.9 days are missed per year by all students with absenteeism highest among African American students.

This doesn't come as any surprise to many of us who follow events in the city.  The paper also points out that the problem of attending class "in the elementary grades is especially acute in African-American communities on the South and West sides scarrd by gang violence, crippling unemployment and grinding poverty."

Let me point out a couple of facts.  First of all, the elementary school students, in many cases, aren't missing because they want to take the day off.  The above facts have something to do with absenteeism.  I have been in dozens of CPS schools and the children are no more prone to like or dislike school than those in suburbia.

Speaking of the suburbs, I think the Tribune would find a good number of students missing plenty of days.  The point I'm making is that absenteeism isn't a problem merely for those of color.  There are plenty of students in many areas who miss a good number of days of school each year.

Back to the CPS schools, the high absenteeism and truancy rates call upon all of us to pitch in, along with parents and school personnel, to turn around this situation.  I will have more to say about some action that can be taken to help students attend classes on a more regular basis.

Dick