Rocky Hill Students Travel To Puerto Rico, Help Hurricane Victims

EAST GREENWICH, RI—Some Rocky Hill students on Thursday showed the whole school how they spent summer vacation. They presented a video of their August school service trip to Puerto Rico where they helped victims of Hurricane Maria. They started by doing their homework about non-profit organizations, and then they picked three to support.

The Interact Club planned the trip. According to the adviser, Michael Jedrey, of North Kingstown, “What impressed me most about our time in Puerto Rico was the determination of our students to make a difference, no matter how small, to the lives of those affected by the hurricane. The students embraced every opportunity, and they were moved by not only the need, but also the warmth and openness of everyone we met and worked with.”

The students delivered food and care packages to people living in “The Forgotten Place” in Aguadilla.

"This is an area that still does not have power or water and is surrounded by damaged buildings," the school said.

The 21 students who made the trip are:

Andrew Zito, of Charlestown;

Elsa Block, of Coventry;

Zack Wilson, of Cranston;

Jacob Snyder, of East Greenwich;

Jaylene Lanzot, of Johnston;

Bridget Vanderveer, of Middletown;

Manny Maldonado, of Newport;

Chloe Ponte, of North Kingstown;

Savanna Olsen, of North Kingstown;

Tamira Lopes, of Providence;

Marlon Monterroso, of Providence;

Aviva Beringhause, of Providence;

Johnette Williams, of Providence;

Nina Zheng, of Providence;

Christoff Bandele, of Pawtucket;

Sarah Curran, of Rumford;

Lizzie Cooney, of Rumford;

Alex Greim, of Warwick;

Jason DeGerlia, of Westerly;

Cameron Osbrey, of West Greenwich; and

Andrea White, of West Warwick.

They also rolled up their sleeves, cleared brush and planted cacao trees at the Finca Hekiti Agroforestry Cacao Farm.

Courtesy Photo Caption: Students deliver care packages to people living in “The Forgotten Place” in Aguadilla.