PROJECT HOPE PERSEVERES!
POSTED 12/19/24
By Letty Sustrin
     This December marks the 26th year that my deceased twin sister, Sheila, and I, retired and joined ROBS. We attended our first meeting September, 1998. It was held at the East Islip Library. The enrollment was small at the time, but the members were very caring and soooo warm and friendly, At the end of the meeting Frank Spencer, who we knew well, and his wife Vern, approached us and asked if we would like to join  their “Project Hope" Committee.  He explained that this involved a “Lot of shopping” (which we LOVED) and much dedication!!! They chaired the committee, and it was so much fun and very rewarding.
   After a couple of years they handed the chairmanship to Peter Vercillo, one of our
dearly departed friends. Peter also believed in the Hamlet of Brentwood as not only did he teach there, but he was a

resident as well. So “Project Hope continued. The membership was wonderful. We know that “Teachers Love To Shop” but also learned that “Teachers are very giving souls.”
   Eventually Peter handed the reins to Sheila and me, and I still continue standing in for Santa Claus each year. I truly believe in “It is better to give than to receive.” It is so heartwarming to help some of our neediest families in Brentwood. I feel like I get to know them and become part of their lives, even though I have never physically met these families. Through the years there have been so many ROBS Elves helping me with making this such a successful event every year, too many to name right now, but they are all greatly appreciated for what they have done.
   When the Pandemic came, most of my shopping was done virtually, and I became addicted to the cause. Each year presents many challenges, but the ROBS

members continue to support our  “Project Hope” both physically and mentally. It is a true blending of wonderful people working together. They  do it because they have a love for the families and the Brentwood School District.  They do it because they WANT to do it, and not that they feel they HAVE to do so. 
   So thank you all for giving me this moment of joy each year. Hopefully we can continue to show support for our needy families.
   God Bless you all, and have a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
    Fondly, Letty
View the Photos Here

Why did we do it?
     What was our purpose in taking on such an open ended “History Project”; for which we evolved a script of questions and got answers from over 150 subjects for two decades?
     We couldn’t answer the question in 1994 when people would ask “What are you going to do with the interviews?” All we could say was that for educational purposes we had to document our record now or lose the chance to preserve so many poignant accounts, funny stories and touching tales told by exemplary educators. We knew these dedicated public servants might shortly, for reasons yet unknown, be leaving Brentwood for good.
     So, we decided to let time sort out the details. We began scheduling appointments. We asked questions and listened saving for generations the essence of what it meant to have been an educator or employed, in this large public school system during the second half of the 20th century. Brentwood remains an exemplar to all others; a diverse microcosm of America reflecting 124 districts on Long Island while simultaneously resembling thousands across the U.S. We’ve accomplished something here to be proud of. Whether we were interviewed or not, ours is a claim of service that few professionals in the State of New York or elsewhere have positioned themselves to share in the way we have.
     INITIALLY the practice of sitting with a subject for an hour and giving them a hundred percent focused attention seemed somewhat daunting to a number of friends and colleagues. So much so in fact that many declined our repeated invitations to speak with us as they left careers or retired from full employment. Despite all assurances that we were not about investigative journalism or invading privacy, they deferred. Now, twenty years after we began, some are saying they may be ready. “Better late than never” we say. However, to all among you who were willing to share not only your classroom experiences and personal stories, but precious memories from your lives along with your fondest hopes for the future, we say “Thanks”. Thanks for allowing us to continue the process by paying it forward as we share these interviews with the Brentwood community and countless professionals and researchers near and far. Through an acceptance of ROBS offer of collaboration with Archivist Dr. Geri Solomon and The Long Island Studies Institute at Hofstra University our History Project lives on in academia as well as in the collection of the Brentwood Public Library, thanks to Director, Thomas A. Tarantowicz.
   You can enjoy unlimited visits to www.robsny.org where you can watch and listen to segments from featured Interviews in the ROBS History Project Section on our Announcements Page each month. Return here to listen and learn again and again.

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Rich Edwards
Travels with Rich Edwards