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GOOD WORKS ON WHEELS
Thursday, May 8, 2003

Tech Students Learn by Helping

Psychologist links school's expertise to orphans' needs
BY WILLIAM FREDERIC FOLEY
FOR THE STAR-LEDGER

Holding down two jobs is tough. It often means running from one to the next and working long hours.

But for Eric Herschman, the psychologist for both Sussex Technical School in Sparta and St. Peter's Orphanage in Denville, working two jobs means being able to get bicycle sheds, heating and air conditioning for disadvantaged children.

For 10 years, Herschman has been a man on a mission. By reaching out to local businesses, Herschman has used his connections and powers of persuasion to help the boys at St. Peter's Orphanage live a better life than state DYFS funds alone could provide.

And five years ago, when Herschman started a second position as the full-time psychologist at Sussex County Technical School, it wasn't very long before he realized the significance of the link between a school dedicated to building elements of a home and an orphanage that needed some rebuilding.

"This is a very old home with lots of plumbing and electric, heating and air-conditioning problems," said Kelly McNamara, Executive Director at St. Peter's Orphanage. "There are so many big and small projects that our contract with the state does not take into consideration."

"We heavily rely on the generosity of others to make it a nicer place to live, and Eric does that for us. He has feelers out everywhere…He does well more than he's paid to do."

So far, some of the collaborations between Sussex Tech's many shops and St. Peter's include the electronic shop fixing remote control cars and electronics, the carpentry shop building four outdoor benches, the welding shop mending steel chair legs, the auto shop helping with small engine repairs on lawnmowers and chainsaws, and the building trade shop collaborating with the art class to make props like ghosts and bats and life-sized coffins for the orphanage's Halloween celebration.

"It's good for all the kids, good for the school and orphanage and good for the community," said Walt Gasirek, carpentry shop teacher at Sussex Tech.

Most recently, the Sussex Technical School carpentry shop spent two months building two sheds so the boys at the orphanage could protect their rusting bicycles (which, of course, Herschman got someone to donate to them).

The school also has provided help with sprucing up the air conditioning and heating and ventilation systems and a Web site built exclusively for St. Peter's by the computer class.

"It's quid pro quo," said Herschman. "The kids at Tech design, build and learn from the use of their projects while the orphanage benefits because we would not have these things otherwise."

As the carpentry shop's foreman, 19-year-old Robert Kantenwein gets to decide which projects the students will work on. He said when he found out that Herschman was asking the students to build the benches and sheds they "jumped on it and said we could do it right away."

"We tried to get it done faster and better for the kids," said Kantenwein, a senior at the school. "It's really cool the way Dr. Herschman helps them out. Everyone needs help sometimes, some more than others. We know the kids at the orphanage have it tougher than us."

Herschman began helping others years ago. While at Yeshiva University working on his doctorate, he began working at a group home in the Bronx.

"I really enjoyed working with inner city kids and I thought I was good at it," said Herschman. "It made me feel good, so when I moved to New Jersey St. Peter's was close to where I was living and they were looking for someone, so it was lucky timing."

Herschman was hired as the orphanage's consulting psychologist and clinical director in 1993. The job description called for 10 hours of work a week, but he soon found himself so involved with the children at St. Peter's that he put in many more hours at the facility, which regularly houses 15 to 20 boys ranging from age 10 to 18.

His efforts to better the orphanage began by contacting local businesses and simply asking them to help in any way they could.

"I've developed an art form," said Herschman with a chuckle. "I ask people for things, and a lot of times they are willing to help out because it's a wonderful, legitimate cause. I make reasonable requests, and we're not looking for luxurious stuff, just the basics."

William Frederic Foley works in the Morris County bureau. He can be reached at wfoley@starledger.com or (973) 539-7910.

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