“This was about teachers and educators helping their own. All youth should be able to have a quality education no matter where they live. The recognition for our efforts should not go to me but to all of the people who worked hard to make this happen,” Strieby said.

Several New Orleans-area high schools have recently re-opened following the Katrina clean-up but have not had the money to replace lost and damaged equipment. Athletes in New Orleans are now wearing used college uniforms and playing with sporting equipment donated from colleges and high schools in our region. Equipment and uniforms from the former Beall High School were also part of the last load Strieby delivered.

“Everything we have taken down has been used right away,” Strieby said, “They are in need of everything: balls of all types, footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, nerf-balls, hula hoops, lacrosse equipment -- including sticks, goals, anything in playing shape -- softball equipment, field hockey equipment and used weight room equipment.”

This Thanksgiving Strieby is scheduled to deliver another load to New Orleans. “We are going to start at Frostburg State University on Nov. 20, at 7 a.m. and travel throughout the state collecting equipment and office supplies. We will leave Maryland at 3 p.m. the same day and head for New Orleans,” Strieby said.

The MAHPERD is a voluntary professional organization of Maryland educators, administrators, coaches and students involved in health education, physical education, recreation, dance, athletics, intramurals, adapted programs and related issues.

For more information or to make a donation, call (301) 697-2201 or (301) 687-7021.