Queens High School Of Teaching
Participates In Habitat For Humanity
Since 2008, the Emerson H4H Club has had over 200 student members. We
have been extremely active and have traveled to New Orleans, LA twice.
We have built in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens here in NYC. We have
traveled to Suffolk County, LI to participate on the Habitat Student
Build there. The H4H Club was started by Ms. Valenze as a result of her
years spent as a Women’s Build Leader and volunteer at Habitat for
Humanity of Suffolk. She wanted to bring the positive ideals of Habitat
to the students of QHST. She was quickly joined by her co-advisors:
Angie Buchalski and Bessie Orciuolo.
In our ‘down’ time we keep busy with weekly club meetings where we work
on building projects for our QHST campus. Our students learn woodworking
skills that are no longer taught in many NYC high schools. We’ve built
planters for our Garden Club, birdhouses for our feathered friends and
tables for our classrooms. Our 2012 project is a wishing well and park
benches for people to enjoy on our beautiful grounds.
Each year we hold our major fundraising event, Pasta & Prizes, in
February. During this evening of family fun and entertainment, we raffle
off prize baskets that have been donated by local businesses, QHST
families and staff, as well as our H4H students. 100 lbs of pasta and
pasta sauce is donated by Barilla Pasta and our cafeteria staff
volunteers their time to help our students cook and serve a meal fit for
kings. The money we raise funds our travel expenses and helps us
purchase materials and supplies.
By participating in the club our students learn through hands-on
experience how their talents and passions can go a long way towards
helping others. All the while they learn about themselves. To date,
Emerson H4H has donated over $5000.00 to our NYC, Long Island and
Louisiana Habitat affiliates. We have raised and disbursed over $8000.00
for scholarships to take our students to New Orleans, LA to build homes
for those still affected by Hurricane Katrina.
For more information about our local Habitat for Humanity please visit
Please contact Gina Valenze at [email protected] to see how you
can help us continue our good work!