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It took just two days for the seventh-graders at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Delmar to rally the other grades to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

Now, a "Change for a Change in Haiti" coin bank is filling up and the students are kicking their ideas into gear. Pupils will donate $5 to dress down for a day and pay to watch a movie in the gym; eighth-graders are donating $100 from their field trip fund.

Seventh-graders want to start a bottle and can redemption program, sell t-shirts and host a craft fair and a car wash. They plan to send a check to Catholic Relief Services. They're keen on the class slogan, "Make a Ripple," and want to see it enacted in the world.

"Our mission from God is to give as much as we can to those who need it," said Benjamin McHugh, one of several seventh-graders who spoke with The Evangelist.

The devastation caused by the magnitude 7 earthquake in Haiti Jan. 12 struck a chord with the students. Mary Grace Barada said it made her aware of worldwide problems.

"We realized how fortunate we are for all we have," said Abby Serfilippi.

Stories of children deprived of food and water for eight days made them think twice, said Alyssa Shufelt, about exaggerating with such phrases such as, "I'm starving."

Camilla Moze said helping makes them feel empowered. Lauren LeClair said she feels sympathy pain for the victims.

Through posters, the children plan to spread the word to St. Thomas the Apostle parish and the local community. Thomas Stanton stressed that his peers are making a difference.

"The world is so big and it's hard to know what to do and who to help," said Morganne McClement; "I think this is opening our eyes."

Kindergartners plan to raise money with a treat sale featuring cupcakes, chocolate-covered pretzels and fruit kebabs.

"A lot of kids here wanted to make cake, but we didn't think it would be healthy," Kindergartner A.J. Pelkey explained. (AC)


(01/28/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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