Schools pitch in for quake relief
While churches and civic groups continue their efforts to help the victims of the Haiti earthquake, schools are harnessing the generosity of students.
The Freeport School District is helping teacher aide Becky Ross with her work to support the LaCroix Mission in Port-au-Prince. Ross, along with the Zion United Methodist Church in Sarver, regularly travels to the mission and is scheduled to leave again on Feb. 6 to concentrate on medical needs.
Port-au-Prince was hit Jan. 12 by an earthquake that destroyed buildings and killed an estimated 200,000 people.
At South Buffalo Elementary, students have been donating toothbrushes, toothpaste, pencils, pens and other supplies. Next week, students can wear hats or pajamas to school if they donate to the fund.
Buffalo Elementary classes are collecting supplies in a contest to win an extra recess period.
At Freeport High School, the media club put together an infomercial for a special section near the library where students are permitted to use cell phones to text donations. Students can go to the spot, which is cordoned off by caution tape, and use cell phones which is not permitted in other parts of the school.
Also, the Key Club will have a bake sale next week to raise money.
The Seneca Valley School District is hopping on board with other WPIAL conference schools to collect donations at basketball games, a promotion called "Hoops For Haiti."
The high school will participate at 5 p.m. Feb. 2 when the boys face Shaler. The project is sponsored by FedEx and collections will be taken by the school's JROTC cadets.
It's much the same at Knoch High School in the South Butler School District. There, student council will collect donations in lieu of the regular admission cost for basketball.
Seneca Valley Intermediate High School students are collecting change for the Hopital Albert Schweitzer. Rowan Elementary already has collected nearly $3,000 for the American Red Cross by accepting donations in the lobby before school.
Rowan teacher Elaine Mings has a daughter in Haiti on a mission trip to work with orphans, said Linda Andreassi, district spokeswoman.
At the Butler School District, teachers donated money in exchange for wearing casual clothes. The district raised about $4,000 for the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.
Butler High School will hold its fundraiser today.
The contributions to Haiti relief add to a growing total of $50,000 donated by the district to charitable causes this school year.
"We're very appreciative of the sentiments we've instilled in our students to help others," Superintendent Ed Fink said.
Other classrooms are collecting supplies for Haiti.
<B>WHAT:</B> "Hoops for Haiti" during the Seneca Valley vs. Shaler basketball game on Feb. 2<B>WHEN: </B>Collection is 5 to 8:30 p.m. Varsity game begins 7:30 p.m.<B>WHERE: </B>Seneca Valley Senior High School, 128 Seneca School Road, HarmonyThe Seneca Valley JROTC Cadets will collect:• Toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap.• Medical supplies including gauze pads, Band-Aids, athletic tape, antibiotic ointment, sun screen.• Plastic storage bags• Paper products including tablets and writing implements.For information, call Greg Caprara at 724-452-6040.
