High school students are doing their part
VERA CHINESE PHOTO
High School Principal David Zimbler (pictured) is helping 10th-grader Drew Achilich sell $10 Horton Avenue T-shirts during school lunch periods, with proceeds benefiting Riverhead flood victims.
Riverhead High School sophomore Drew Achilich was headed to school last month when he witnessed firsthand through the window the devastation at Horton Avenue. He knew something had to be done to help the flood victims there.
With the help of his dad, Steve, who runs a promotional advertising agency based from the family’s Baiting Hollow home, Drew designed a simple T-shirt he hopes will both raise money and awareness for those on Horton and neighboring Osborn Avenue whose homes were destroyed.
“Right after it happened, the idea came to mind,” he said. “It’s a great way to give back to the community.”
The white T-shirts, which feature a blue Horton Avenue street sign across the front and the Riverhead Blue Waves logo on the sleeve, will go on sale at the high school either Friday or Monday, said principal David Zimbler said.
“[The T-shirts] represent that we haven’t forgotten about Horton Avenue,” he said.
The shirts will be available at the school and are $10 a piece. All proceeds will benefit the Horton Avenue flood fund. Mr. Zimbler said the shirts, which are available in sizes small through XXXL, will be sold during lunch periods, and anyone in the community can order one by calling the school’s main number at 369-6727.
Mr. Zimbler said students already sold about 20 T-shirts during a rally for flood victims at the First Baptist Church of Riverhead Saturday. Drew said he hopes the project gets “as big as it possibly can.”
Elsewhere in town, others have also continued to raise funds for the flood victims. The Riverhead Republican Club held a fundraiser at Martha Clara Vineyard in Riverhead Monday night that raised just under $5,000, and Riverhead’s Democrats donated a check for $500 during Saturday’s meeting at the First Baptist Church, at which a fund has been set up to collect such donations. State Assemblyman Marc Alessi meanwhile has hosted two food and clothing drives for victims. The most recent was sponsored in part by the Calvary Baptist Church in Riverside. Mr. Alessi helped deliver two trucks filled with clothes, toiletries and food to Horton Avenue last weekend.
