In response to Hurricane Katrina, 60 young people from the Edison Job Corps Academy worked in September 2005 to renovate houses in Perth Amboy that would shelter evacuees.

Student Anthony Nieves, born in New York, told the Home News Tribune, "I want to help people who helped us in the past. We lived the tragedy of 9/11 and the entire world came to our aid; it's now time for us to pay them back by lending a hand."

Many students at the vocational school, a CC! Coalition member, took their classroom knowledge of topics like building maintenance straight to the site.

"They are really excited about being able to help and put into practice the knowledge gained at the carpentry, plumbing and building maintenance workshops," said Olga Carrillo, volunteer director at the vocational center.

Others simply pitched in as necessary. "I study carpentry, but I am painting here because I am doing what can be done and what is needed," said Christopher Molina.