Starting early this past Saturday morning, the Rocks assisted the community and raked in Speech and Debate trophies.

The Green Cross Club, led by Mr. Michael Budniak, took part in Project Warm, assisting those in need by winterizing their homes.

Members of the Speech and Debate team traveled to Danville to compete in the Tournament of Firsts.  Placing for the Rocks were freshman James Ewing, who placed seventh in Impromptu Speaking; senior Antonio Clements, who placed sixth in Broadcasting; and senior Jorge Rojas-Ortega, who placed second in Congressional Debate and second in Impromptu Speaking.   For the second week in a row, Jorge was named the champion in Extemporaneous Speaking. For the second year in a row, Rojas-Ortega has won Extemporaneous Speaking at the Danville Tournament of Firsts.

Trinity’s Department of Theatre Arts was also hard at work on Saturday, presenting their final evening performance of “The Miser,” under the leadership of Producer Mr. C. J. Rush and Artistic Director William P. Bradford II.

Project Warm and Rocks

Help Fend Off Winter’s Chill

by Tommy McConville

Editor in Chief

Three flower pots sat on the edge of the front porch. Most of the flowers had started to wilt because of the dropping temperatures. It was 54 degrees outside — and inside the house felt no different.

Ms. Deanna Deasokacz lives in a small, shotgun-style home off Longfield Boulevard.  Inside the front door, there is a small living area with three windows in the room.

The bedroom is directly behind the living area and there is a significant difference between the temperature in the bedroom and the living room.

“The furnace is in this room,” Deasokacz said. “This room stays real warm, but all the rest of the house gets real cold. The house was built in the 1920s, and the windows are the original windows.”

This is where Project Warm works to make a difference.  On a recent Saturday morning, Trinity teacher Mr. Michael Budniak and three students worked to weather strip and insulate Deasokacz’s home to prepare for winter.

Project Warm is a non-profit organization — partly funded by LG&E, UPS, Metro Louisville, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, the Gheens Foundation and generous donations –to provide free weatherization services to homeowners and renters who meet the eligibility criteria.

Project Warm has been providing help since 1982. The organization has grown tremendously throughout the years. Budniak has been a part of the organization for many years. He said, “When I was teaching at Western High School 20 years ago, I got started and did some work for Project Warm.”

Trinity freshman Will Riddle, and juniors Joseph Klumpp and Aaron Vale taped plastic insulation to the three windows in Deasokacz’s home so the cold air wouldn’t intrude.

Connected to the bedroom was a small kitchen. Budniak and students kept most of their supplies in the kitchen, so there was a lot of going back and forth. The house was very small and very old. If it weren’t for Project Warm, Louisville’s frigid winter would have no problem making itself  at home in this house.

Trinity offers numerous opportunities for students to get involved in service, with many projects led by Budniak. He said, “I love doing service work. I think being able to help people as much as possible is what we’re supposed to be doing. We give back when we possibly can. I would be doing this every weekend if I could.”

Enough Trinity students signed up for Project Warm this year that two teams were assigned to different locations.  “Trinity has such a large work force of students, not just wanting service hours, but wanting to do this kind of thing,” Budniak said. “Trinity has such a great opportunity and an encouragement for all of the students to help out.”

Klumpp said, “I thought (Project Warm) would be a good experience to be a part of.  I’ve always been interested in one these projects. You’re actually in the active world helping other people.”

Vale joined Project Warm through Holy Trinity Parish last year. He said, “I really liked it because you are able to give back to the community and see that not everyone has the same life as you.”

The people that are eligible for aid from Project Warm truly do need help. Deasokacz, who is low-income as well as on disability, said, “When they called from Trinity, I was elated. I was in tears because it meant a lot to me.”

Check out these videos of the Project Warm group at work. (videos by Michael Hellinger)