Hopatcong Elementary Schools Collect Donations for Japan

Hopatcong teacher Cindi Parello felt helpless. So she decided to help.

and schools began collecting donations last week for the American Red Cross' international disaster relief fund, which will benefit those affected by the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

School counselor Lisa Schuffenhauer said 91 percent of the money will help victims. The rest will go other Red Cross relief funds. She also said donations should be dropped off in envelopes at either school's main office and that the fundraiser was in conjunction with Hopatcong's police department. Donations will be accepted until April 15.

Parello said she had the idea while watching the tragedy unfold on TV. She said she believes Hopatcong will help any way it can.

"This community is so good about reaching out to each other within the community, so I just knew that they would want to be part of this, too," Parello said.

She also said she hoped to use the disaster as a teaching point for the borough's children. So she enlisted the help of art teacher Karin Frey, who had children create paper chrysanthemums, which are the Japanese royal family's crest.

Schuffenhauer said the fundraiser was also part of Hudson Maxim's