The fact that one of the school districts in New York that was hit the hardest by Hurricane Sandy was named Freeport was a coincidence that wasn’t lost on Durham’s Abigial Smith.

Smith, 17, a senior at Freeport High School, was struck by the images of devastation that came in the aftermath of the superstorm. She was especially struck with the idea of kids in the Freeport, N.Y., school district going back to school after the destruction. While much of the relief efforts pouring into the area in the days following the storm were rightly focused on getting food, clothing, medical supplies and other essential items to the area, Smith began to wonder how the students would go back to school. So, she decided to do something about it.

Wwith the aid of Dede Bennell, Freeport High School service learning and aspirations coordinator, and Dana Clark, guidance counselor, Smith organized a service project called “Freeport to Freeport,” which was designed to collect school supplies to replace what was lost during the storm for the students in the Freeport, N.Y., school district. “Many relief organizations were focused on getting clothing, food and other essential items, so I thought if I gave school supplies, it would be one less thing for people to worry about,” Smith said. Smith plans to take a trip to Freeport with Bennell and Clark after the first of the year to deliver the supplies that she has collected for this project. As the supplies roll in, Smith recently took a few minutes to discuss the project with the Tri-Town Weekly.

Q: Did you get the idea because it was Freeport, N.Y.?

A: I actually got the Freeport, N.Y., idea later. I brought my idea to Mrs. Bennell and then we were talking to Ms. Clark and she had mentioned about how a couple of years ago, they had mixed up our diplomas (with Freeport, N.Y.), and we had to work to get them back, so they knew about Freeport, N.Y., from there and it would be cool to connect (with them).

Q: What are you hoping to raise?

A: Just as much stuff as we can get to help get everything they need. We have the supplies (we’ve already gathered) here and Big Al’s (in Wiscasset) is giving us stuff. Another company in Portland is giving us some stuff.

Q: How did you go about making contacts down there?

A: Mrs. Bennell got in contact with the schools in New York. It was hard because they weren’t in school and there was no one in a set location.

Q: How is the project going so far? How much have you raised?

A: It’s going great. (We’ve raised) around $500 and we have a bunch of awesome supplies.

Q: How are the supplies going to get delivered?

A: We’re going to drive down there ourselves, Ms. Clark, Mrs. Bennell, myself, and perhaps a few other students, we’re going to get a Freeport van and we’re going to drive down there. We’re going to go down sometime after Christmas break. They have midterms and we have midterms, so it probably won’t be until January.

Q: How important is it for students like you to get involved in helping other students?

A: I think it’s really important. Because we know what they need, we’re almost the same age, and we’re doing the same stuff (in school), so knowing all the problems that they face is something that we face, just now they have to deal with one more thing (the aftermath of Sandy).

Q: Besides Freeport High School, what other schools in the district are involved in this project?

A: Freeport Middle School, the Mast Landing School and the Durham Community School are all helping out, as well as the Freeport Community Center.

Q: Have you talked to any students down there?

A: No, we’ve just talked to the principal and were told that when we get down there we will give the stuff to the school and the school guidance counselors will be the ones making sure that the stuff gets to the correct students, because some of the students need more than others. And we’re also hoping to get some supplies to the teachers so that way they’ll have some stuff, as well.

Q: How can people donate to this project?

A: They can either bring stuff to any of our locations – the Durham Community School, the Mast Landing School, Freeport Middle School, Freeport High School and the Freeport Community Center. You can also write checks out to Freeport High School and in the memo area put “Freeport to Freeport.” We will be accepting donations until the day we leave.

Q: How much has this project meant to you?

A: A lot. It’s the first big project I’ve done all by myself. Most of my projects I’m just giving something to someone to use, and this one I’m helping to organize and it’s taught me a lot.

Q: Does doing this project make you feel good?

A: Definitely. Knowing that I’m going to go down there and see everyone and (see for myself) the effects of this project is awesome.

A lot of supplies have already been collected for the “Freeport to Freeport” hurricane relief effort begun by Abigial Smith of Durham, a Freeport High School student.    

The fact that one of the school districts in New York that was hit the hardest by Hurricane Sandy was named Freeport was a coincidence that wasn’t lost on Durham’s Abigial Smith.

Smith, 17, a senior at Freeport High School, was struck by the images of devastation that came in the aftermath of the superstorm. She was especially struck with the idea of kids in the Freeport, N.Y., school district going back to school after the destruction. While much of the relief efforts pouring into the area in the days following the storm were rightly focused on getting food, clothing, medical supplies and other essential items to the area, Smith began to wonder how the students would go back to school. So, she decided to do something about it.

Wwith the aid of Dede Bennell, Freeport High School service learning and aspirations coordinator, and Dana Clark, guidance counselor, Smith organized a service project called “Freeport to Freeport,” which was designed to collect school supplies to replace what was lost during the storm for the students in the Freeport, N.Y., school district. “Many relief organizations were focused on getting clothing, food and other essential items, so I thought if I gave school supplies, it would be one less thing for people to worry about,” Smith said. Smith plans to take a trip to Freeport with Bennell and Clark after the first of the year to deliver the supplies that she has collected for this project. As the supplies roll in, Smith recently took a few minutes to discuss the project with the Tri-Town Weekly.

Q: Did you get the idea because it was Freeport, N.Y.?

A: I actually got the Freeport, N.Y., idea later. I brought my idea to Mrs. Bennell and then we were talking to Ms. Clark and she had mentioned about how a couple of years ago, they had mixed up our diplomas (with Freeport, N.Y.), and we had to work to get them back, so they knew about Freeport, N.Y., from there and it would be cool to connect (with them).

Q: What are you hoping to raise?

A: Just as much stuff as we can get to help get everything they need. We have the supplies (we’ve already gathered) here and Big Al’s (in Wiscasset) is giving us stuff. Another company in Portland is giving us some stuff.

Q: How did you go about making contacts down there?

A: Mrs. Bennell got in contact with the schools in New York. It was hard because they weren’t in school and there was no one in a set location.

Q: How is the project going so far? How much have you raised?

A: It’s going great. (We’ve raised) around $500 and we have a bunch of awesome supplies.

Q: How are the supplies going to get delivered?

A: We’re going to drive down there ourselves, Ms. Clark, Mrs. Bennell, myself, and perhaps a few other students, we’re going to get a Freeport van and we’re going to drive down there. We’re going to go down sometime after Christmas break. They have midterms and we have midterms, so it probably won’t be until January.

Q: How important is it for students like you to get involved in helping other students?

A: I think it’s really important. Because we know what they need, we’re almost the same age, and we’re doing the same stuff (in school), so knowing all the problems that they face is something that we face, just now they have to deal with one more thing (the aftermath of Sandy).

Q: Besides Freeport High School, what other schools in the district are involved in this project?

A: Freeport Middle School, the Mast Landing School and the Durham Community School are all helping out, as well as the Freeport Community Center.

Q: Have you talked to any students down there?

A: No, we’ve just talked to the principal and were told that when we get down there we will give the stuff to the school and the school guidance counselors will be the ones making sure that the stuff gets to the correct students, because some of the students need more than others. And we’re also hoping to get some supplies to the teachers so that way they’ll have some stuff, as well.

Q: How can people donate to this project?

A: They can either bring stuff to any of our locations – the Durham Community School, the Mast Landing School, Freeport Middle School, Freeport High School and the Freeport Community Center. You can also write checks out to Freeport High School and in the memo area put “Freeport to Freeport.” We will be accepting donations until the day we leave.

Q: How much has this project meant to you?

A: A lot. It’s the first big project I’ve done all by myself. Most of my projects I’m just giving something to someone to use, and this one I’m helping to organize and it’s taught me a lot.

Q: Does doing this project make you feel good?

A: Definitely. Knowing that I’m going to go down there and see everyone and (see for myself) the effects of this project is awesome.

A lot of supplies have already been collected for the “Freeport to Freeport” hurricane relief effort begun by Abigial Smith of Durham, a Freeport High School student.