In an inspiring display of community engagement, 14 Greenwich Country Day School students joined forces with the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater New York City during their 3-week Intersession, a period dedicated to in-depth exploration of a chosen topic. The students embarked on Building with Purpose, a project focused on restoring and constructing affordable housing for families in need.
The initiative began in Larchmont, NY, where students contributed to the restoration of a home left in despair, and later transitioned to Greenburgh, NY, to aid in building a new residence for a family whose home was destroyed in the 2021 floods. This hands-on experience provided the students with practical skills in construction and a deeper understanding of housing challenges.
Before their fieldwork, the students prepared by reading “Evicted” by Matthew Desmond, an insightful book about the eviction cycle and poverty in Milwaukee. They also researched housing issues across various states, aiming to grasp the national scope of the problem.
Faculty advisor Joe Perry praised the project, noting its role in fostering knowledge, empathy, and skills. Under the guidance of Fuller Center staff, students acquired practical skills in window installation, power tool usage, and space reconstruction.
Sophia Schwartz, involved in a GCDS service club and aspiring to establish a Fuller Center Club at the school, shared her experience. “Building a house for someone to live in, potentially for generations, was entirely new and hands-on for me,” she said. Sophia emphasized the local impact of their work, stating, “We didn’t have to go to a different country to make a difference. This project brought the concept of service back home.”
The GCDS Center for Public Good collaborated with various community-based nonprofits, including Greenwich Emergency Medical Services, Waterside School i n Stamford, CT, and organizations like Abilis, which serves developmentally disabled individuals. This partnership extended to a dozen groups addressing food insecurity, such as Neighbor to Neighbor and Meals on Wheels, underlining the wide-reaching impact of the Intersession projects.
Greenwich Country Day School continues to uphold its mission of academic excellence and character development, instilling in its students the values of empathy, inquiry, and real-world application. Through projects like Building with Purpose, GCDS students are not only gaining educational insights but also contributing meaningfully to their communities.
The Fuller Center for Housing of Greater New York, instrumental in this collaboration, remains dedicated to providing affordable housing in areas affected by gentrification and financial disparities, bridging the gap between those in need and available resources.
For more information on GCDS and the Fuller Center for Housing of Greater New York, visit www.gcds.net and www.fullercenterny.org respectively.
