New Jersey Students Reach Out to Injured Firefighter

TABERNACLE-Two Olson Middle School students who were inspired by their seventh grade Social Studies teacher to reach out and change a life, have done that, and additionally have inspired many of their fellow classmates to join them in community service.

On the morning of Sept.11 of this year, Tabernacle teacher Jodi Mundy heard a radio news report about Charles Giles, an unsung hero of 9/11. Giles was one of the firefighters who barely escaped the World Trade Center tower collapse, then fought his way into into the remaining tower to save other rescuers, until that also collapsed.

While assisting victims that day, he sustained burns, lung damage, and a laundry list of additional injuries, but still returned to Ground Zero to search for survivors for several days following the attack.

Giles eventually moved to South Jersey, but has been financially strapped to the point of losing his Barnegat Township home to foreclosure. His disability insurance has run out and his medical bills are mounting, but because of red-tape and procedural roadblocks set forth by the federal government and relief agencies, Giles, his wife, and his children are in a dire financial situation. "We gave our heart and souls on Sept. 11, and the government has turned its back on us," laments Giles.

After Mundy shared this story of hardship with her class, two of her students, Kaitlyn Glossner and Amanda Hauner, both of Tabernacle, decided to take action. "We felt really bad about the rescue worker, and we decided we wanted to do something hing for him," 12-year-old Glossner said.

So the girls developed a plan to raise money at an upcoming youth football pep rally. After the girls performed their cheer, announcer Scott Glossner (Kaitlyn's Dad) informed the football supporters that the girls would be at the exit doors collecting monetary donations for Giles.

The Tabernacle and Indian Mills community proved to be generous with the donations.

"We were hoping to make about $100 dollars," Glossner reported, "but our Tupperware containers filled up until there was over $800! We felt we really accomplished something to help someone in the community."

Surprised and satisfied with their own success, they are determined to expand their fund-raising efforts. Their enthusiasm has become contagious; a group of classmates has begun giving up their recess daily in order to plan other fund-raising activities involving the surrounding community. Also, a separate donation project by the entire seventh grade is underway, and seems to be spreading school-wide.

Giles said he is humbled by what the community has done for him. "It's hard for me to receive these donations, and I don't want one penny extra. I just want to be able to pay my bills. I want to know that my family will be taken care of," he explained, emotions creeping into his voice.

Giles said he plans to visit Olson Middle School in the near future to personally thank the seventh graders, particularly Mundy's class.

Mundy said she has been teaching her social studies classes the importance of citizenship, and urges her students to practice getting involved in society today, since they are the leaders of tomorrow. "I don't want to teach my students that history is a study of dead people, but rather a chance to affect the outcome of injustices they see around them," Mundy said.

In spite of his many disabilities, Charles Giles is still contributing to society. He volunteers as a secretary and public relations officer for the Pinewood Estates Volunteer Fire Company. The fire company has set up a relief fund for him at: Pinew Pinewood Estates Volunteer Fire Company, 99 Route 72, Barnegat, NJ.

Republished with permission from The Medford Central Record