Short Hills Students Help Hurricane Victims In Florida

SHORT HILLS, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of St. Rose of Lima Academy. Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

In early September, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, where many suffered terrible losses. The students at St. Rose of Lima Academy in Short Hills wondered what they could do to help.

Principal Tina Underwood reached out to sister school, St. Rose of Lima School, in Miami Shores, Florida, to see if there was some way that we could help. The vice principal of St. Rose in Miami Shores, Celine Zigmont, expressed her gratitude for not only reaching out but she also expressed an interest in our helping to replace the “young children’s playground,” which was completely destroyed.

With the help of academy students and the Adolescent Faith Formation group of St. Rose of Lima Church, organizers were able to raise $1,000. “It is incredible how we can make a difference in the lives or others," Underwood said.

St. Rose learned of a direct connection between the two schools, when it was discovered that its own sixth grader, Amelia Lisco’s first cousins Nicholas Arrieta, fifth grade, and Lukas Arrieta, pre-K, attend St. Rose in Miami Shores and that Lukas will benefit directly from the rebuilt playground.

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