Harrison Students Find Creative Ways To Help Their Community

The students of Harrison have been dedicating time to the service of their community. Harrison High School junior John Pecini has been bringing smiles to members of his community through the many baked goods he provides. As part of the Martin Luther King Junior’s National Day of Service, John baked for patients at the Dickstein Cancer Treatment Center of White Plains.

John recognized a need when he realized that patients receiving treatment are often there for the whole day. In some instances, some patients have become dehydrated and are in the treatment center to replenish fluids. He found that the baked goods he could provide would help to build their strength.

He also found that some patient’s treatments leave a bitter after taste in their mouths and they are hesitant to eat and drink but know they must to keep up their strength. John has spent time altering some of his favorite recipes to meet the needs of those he is trying to help. In some cases, he has added additional spices and in others reduced the use of sugar to provide healthier alternatives.

John, like many of Harrison’s students, has baked in the past for the children at The Cottages, many of whom have never tasted a homemade cookie or brownie, or the seniors at the Senior Center in Harrison.

Other students have been involved in an outreach program known as Neighbor to Neighbor in Greenwich, CT. This nationwide organization helps provide clothing, food and other necessities to people in need in the area. Students helped to sort through clothing donations and worked to organize the room into specific areas to allow those “shopping” easily identify the clothing items that would be most beneficial for them.

“It was not only a lot of fun, but I got to see who I was helping,” said freshman Julianne Sanscartier. “Lots of people came in to pick up/”shop” for clothing, mostly with their children. It was a great experience.”

HHS Junior Erica Dattero agrees. She, along with classmates Lucas Pettinato and Kendra Deschamps, also helped clean and restock the shelves in addition to adding a few of their own items.

“It was really exciting for me to see one of the mothers in the clothing room pick out my donated winter coat to bring home with her,” said Dattero.   “This was such a rewarding experience because not only was I able to help a great organization, but I was able to witness firsthand how one person’s donation can make a difference in someone’s life.”