JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley School District will hold a Tree of Life fundraiser on Thursday.

Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue, at which 11 people were killed and more injured in a shooting Oct. 27, will be given donations raised from Seneca Valley’s “Black and Gold Day.”

Staff who want to participate will be asked to give $10 to wear Steelers colors and jeans to show solidarity with Pittsburgh on a Steelers’ game night, according to Linda Andreassi.

“So many of the staff wanted to show their support for the district and help in some way,” said Lauri Pendred, Evans City Elementary School principal. “It’s just a way for our staff to show Pittsburgh support.”

Pendred said their main goal is to “spread the message of ‘love is stronger than hate.’”

Students in the lower grades haven’t been invited to participate because many might not know the reason behind the fundraiser, and Pendred said the district didn’t want to take that conversation away from parents who may have different thoughts on how to approach the subject.

“In the younger grades,” she said, “it’s a little more difficult to talk about the mass shootings because we don’t want kids to be afraid to come to school.”

Different grade levels and classes have already sent cards to officers still in the hospital, which Pendred said some understood and some weren’t sure why the police were in the hospital.

Many staff members have shown interest in participating in Thursday’s fundraiser, Pendred said.

“We generally have a lot of participation anytime we do fundraisers in our schools,” she said, “whether it’s for heart health or cancer research — there’s always a very supportive turnout.”

Pendred said some people end up giving more than what is required for the donation, but that the main point is to show support for “our Pittsburgh neighbors.”

Andreassi said the district’s main office, Haine Elementary, Haine Middle and Evans City Elementary schools have plans to hold this fundraiser. Andreassi said other schools would most likely be participating, but that not every school had confirmed yet.