There is a ball of energy in Secaucus named Angelica Vasquez, 10, and she likes to help those in need whenever she can.
The dark-eyed, dimpled Huber Street Elementary School fifth grader once cut 10 inches from her long hair and sent it to “Locks for Love,” a nonprofit organization that gives hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair loss. Her cousin had cancer two years ago and she thought that would be a good way to help her.The cancer has since gone, but Angelica still has a zest for giving. Now she has stirred up her friends and family to fundraise for Hurricane Katrina victims from the Gulf Coast states. Angelica said she was “devastated” when see saw the suffering of those affected by the Category 5 hurricane in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. “I saw that they got their homes destroyed, they lost their dogs they left behind, and lost a lot of money,” she said. “I wanted to help these people.”
Making a wish, a plan
Angelica’s mother, Melissa Vasquez, said her daughter is “always finding ways to help people.”
“She came to me and said she and her friends wanted to do something,” said Melissa. “I told her she could limit it to four friends, a nice manageable number.”
So Angelica enlisted her sister Yazlynne Vasquez, 13, an eighth grader at Secaucus Middle School, and her classmates at Huber Street School, Kayre Vidal and Miranda Vega.
Then, Melissa found out about Mayor Dennis Elwell’s Katrina Fund from a flyer her mother saw around town. “I called the mayor to find out where I could donate the money,” she said.
Angelica, Yazlynne and Miranda are on Secaucus Recreation Department soccer teams. Angelica plays on the Kickey All Stars travel team (which plays different towns), Yazlynne plays on the Kickey Recreation team (which plays other Secaucus groups), and Miranda plays on the Kipnis travel team.
Melissa arranged with Recreation Director John Voli that the girls could fundraise at an Oct. 1 home soccer game at Mill Ridge soccer field.
“I think it’s admirable when children can have thought a process that allows them to consider the welfare of others,” Elwell said. “That they care enough to do something speaks of their maturity and humanity.”
Elwell said he started the Katrina Fund at North Fork Bank on Paterson Plank Road in early September, shortly after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the southeastern states.
He said the fund is “up to $50,000 since yesterday.” Contributions have come from agencies, organizations and individuals in town.
How the kids did it
“We decided to sell Gatorade since it was at a soccer game,” said Kayre Vidal. “We put the price of the stuff we were selling, but people paid much more. It was good to see that they became generous because it was for Katrina victims.”
Melissa Vasquez said the parents of the four girls involved in the fundraiser supplied the drinks and candy. Dunkin Donuts on Paterson Plank Road donated Munchkins donut holes and coffee for adults, she said. The tenacious quartet made a grand total of $220 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on that Saturday.
Mayor Elwell even helped out for a while and made a donation.
“It was really fun and I got to be with my friends,” said Miranda. “I never did anything like this before. I liked it that I got to help people and have fun at the same time.”
Yazlynne said she was commandeered to help out, but enjoyed the experience too.
“People were very friendly and wanted to help out a lot,” she said.
Angelica said she doesn’t know why she has such a great urge to help the needy, but she said that doing so makes you “a better person and feel good about yourself.”
She said when she grows up, she would like to become a veterinarian and work with tigers.