by JIM CULLEN
Fifth grade representatives of Science Hall Elementary Student Council, joined by sponsors Theresa Duran-Fuentes and Ruth Meek, proudly display some of the large collection of shoes they put together as part of Austin’s Total Relief Foot Care project to send shoes to earthquake devastated Haiti. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
In the weeks following a devastating earthquake in Haiti that left more than 200,000 dead and millions more homeless or injured, people around the world responded with an outpouring of humanitarian aid.
Hays CISD students were no exception. A number of local campuses have started home-grown drives to gather resources for Haitians impacted by the quake.
Science Hall Elementary Student Council got focused on the need for shoes in the earthquake-devastated nation. The students came up with “Soles for Haiti,” a drive to gather and send as many pairs of usable shoes as possible. It’s part of an Austin-area effort that has gathered more than 20,000 pairs.
At Tom Green Elementary, students are participating in a “Hornets Have Wings” drive. Students in all grades are donating money and clothing to send to Haiti. In one special twist, Hornet third-graders held a “market day” as part of a social studies unit and proceeds went to the relief fund.
Negley Elementary students collected change in the morning and afternoon at “drop-off” areas, “letting the world know they care.”
Tobias Elementary Student Council is conducting a coin drive.
At Camino Real Elementary, a “Help for Haiti” donation box was set up and students and staff pooled their pennies, nickels, dimes and bills to raise $400 for the American Red Cross.
Buda Elementary has put together grants from their Kids Care Club and Hasbro Toys to hold a “Playathon” Monday, March 8, 3-4 p.m., in the Kunkel Room. Students will get pledges (or donations) for the time they spend playing and the Hasbro Company has agreed to match the money raised at the event. All of the money is destined for “SOS Children’s Villages,” an organization providing relief to Haiti’s children.
In one of the first fundraisers, Kyle Elementary School collected more than $1400 for the organization Doctors Without Borders.
Chapa Middle School students worked through the Communities in Schools program, created posters and made announcements to build awareness for their fund drive.
Dahlstrom Middle School is collecting funds for the Red Cross.
Barton Middle School’s students watched an advisory period presentation on the tragedy and quickly gathered $100 to give the Red Cross.
Simon Middle School will donate all proceeds from its March 12 dance (and half of all concession proceeds) to Haiti relief efforts. Additionally, motivated Wolverines will have the opportunity to purchase “free dress passes” during the week leading into the dance ($1 for students, $5 for staff), allowing them to wear clothes other than that day’s standardized dress code.
Lehman High School’s Haiti Jeans Drive had collected 158 pairs of jeans, with the front office mark of 54 pairs setting the pace and Lisa Atkins’ second period English class coming in close behind with 49 pairs. Atkins reports the drive “was made possible by one of our former students, which I think is pretty awesome!”
Awesome? Certainly so, both individually and collectively.
Want to help?
• Send a $10 Donation by Texting ‘Haiti’ to 90999
• Make a donation by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
