Man volunteers in 50 states, but relishes return to native Huntington Station
A Huntington Station native on a mission to volunteer with youth organizations in all 50 states in 100 days is stopping in his hometown Monday.
Chris Strub, a 2003 graduate of Huntington High School and current Greenville, South Carolina, resident, started his pilgrimage May 15. It's scheduled to end Aug. 21 -- two days before his 30th birthday.
Strub has worked with youth groups around the country, and at 10 a.m. Monday, he will join Town of Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone at the Project Play & St. John's Camp.
The summer day camp is for low-income children ages 4-12. It's held at the Jack Abrams STEM School, in Huntington Station. Strub said the visit has particular significance because he attended fifth and sixth grade there when the school was still called Huntington Intermediate School.
"As special as it is to meet kids around the United States, nothing is going to compare to meeting kids in my hometown," he said Sunday.
Strub has eight more states to visit, with New Jersey up next, and his final stop in North Carolina.
He said he decided to focus on volunteering with youth organizations because he thrives on the good feeling he gets when giving back.
"I don't think I'll really understand how special an experience this was at least until it's over," Strub said. "Maybe not for years or decades to come."
In addition to the volunteer work, he also promotes the various organizations through social media and news media interviews.
He has racked up about 11,000 miles so far on his 2007 Honda Accord (he flew to Alaska and Hawaii). The vehicle is covered in handwritten advice for and from the children he's worked with.
Strub tried and failed to attract formal sponsorship for his journey, but received some help from donations on his website teamstrub.com/ and a gofundme.com campaign. However, he said the vast majority of the trip has gone on his personal credit cards. He had spent $7,200 by Aug. 1.
For him, it's worth it.
"You can definitely make an impact in the life of a child in a very short time," he said, adding that he hopes to inspire others to volunteer in their own communities.
