Updated 04/20/2012 06:37 PM
Queens students visit Linnaeus West Elementary
A group of New York City high schoolers give back to the local community. Students from the Queens High School of Teaching visited Linnaeus West Elementary School in Endicott Friday to speak to Owego elementary kids impacted by September's flood. As our Melissa Kakareka tells, the visit provided some valuable lessons for both groups of students.
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ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- Students in Owego Elementary School's Flood Recovery Group made some new friends Friday afternoon.
"I saw how this area was affected by the flood, so I just wanted to come and experience this life-changing event," said Queens Teaching High School sophomore Ericka Burton.
Habitat for Humanity students from the Queens High School of Teaching in New York City visited Linnaeus West Elementary in Endicott, which has been the home of Owego's elementary students since the September flood.
The Queens students wanted to learn more about the kid's experiences during the flood. And they also helped the elementary students paint flower boxes that will be used to decorate the school.
"We're painting the wood with the kids so they can personalize it themselves, so if years from now, if they want to come back and see it they can see they contributed to their community," said Queens senior Megan Weinberg.
"This is a way for them to do something fun. They are making some flower boxes for the school, so they can have them around the building, have some roots, because it sounds like we'll be here for a while. So it makes the place feel more like their building right now," said Owego Flood Recovery Group Coordinator Diane Franz.
Members of the group say the experience gave them a sense of personal accomplishment.
"That's the great thing about Habitat for Humanity, it's not just you giving, it's you learning and taking back and being grateful for what you have," said Queens senior Sarah Broughton.
And it helped the elementary students as they continue to recover from the flood.
"I hope they get a feeling that some people actually care what about happened instead of not caring at all," said Queens junior Robert Walter.
Giving everyone something to feel good about.