Helping Hands For Haiti

"Could all the kids bring in one dollar because of the earthquake in Haiti? I feel bad for the children. We can send it to the Red Cross." So wrote one Hemlock first grader to her teacher at the top of a pencil drawing she had created illustrating broken buildings and a doctor holding hands with a sad, bandaged child.

Helping others in need is one way that children can be empowered to process difficult events, such as the earthquake in Haiti. By giving children the avenues through which to act, adults facilitate empathy and instill valuable lessons that will last a lifetime.

Since the tragedy occurred on Jan. 12, children and adults in the district's seven school buildings have mobilized to collect funds and supplies to ship to Haiti. Kindergarten through twelfth grade students, their parents and district-wide staff members have joined together to make an impact where masterstrokes of relief are called for.

Efforts in the buildings are ongoing, but a brief summary of donations to date includes: The primary and elementary schools collected medical and school supplies for The Christian Hand Foundation, an organization which has been helping the Haitian people for years and which will hand-deliver the collected supplies directly to the Haitian people. Donations included band-aids, bandages, gauze, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, cotton balls, latex gloves, Q-tips, aspirin, Tylenol and hand sanitizers, as well as school supplies, such as small notebooks, books, pencils, erasers and art supplies.

"Dr. Jusma from The Christian Hand Foundation picked up the medical supplies (bandages, Tylenol, cotton balls, etc.) from Hemlock School and will be bringing them back with her on her next trip to Haiti in March," commented Hemlock Principal Audrey Bellovin. "We weighed the supplies and discovered the children had donated 95 lbs. to be shipped to those in need."

At Homestead, students filled seven boxes with first aid supplies and non-perishable food items. "We've been collecting a lot of supplies for people who are in the hospital so they can get better," commented one kindergartner.  

Stewart School served as a staging area for donations collected at Homestead, Stratford and Stewart Schools. Stratford Principal Diane Hopkins stated, "Once again, the students, parents and staff have joined together in support of a very worthy humanitarian cause."

Principal Hopkins estimated that, from Stratford alone, at least 50 lbs. of medical and school supplies were collected, as well as monetary donations as follows: Red Cross - $455, Hope for Haiti - $25, UNICEF - $75, Hands Together - $25 and America Cares - $100.

In the middle school, students raised $3,021 in just a few days by running a basket raffle before and after school, and during lunch recess. Thematic prize baskets were assembled, 33 in all, with items - everything from the baskets themselves to the cellophane and ribbon to make them look nice - donated by the students and staff. Students came in before school to help put the baskets together and display them in the glass cases outside the cafeteria. 

Connie Beovich, a middle school teacher and avid Yankee fan, donated one of the most popular prizes, Yankees memorabilia, along with other items. "The students put this entire raffle together within a week. It started with a home base discussion about what we could do as a team to support the people of Haiti," commented teacher Robin Fitterer. "We cannot say enough about the students who went out of their way to donate both prizes and time."

Additionally, students in Constance Beovich's and Barbara Esterow's seventh grade home and careers classes have begun sewing soft plush pillows in pink and blue to send to Haitian children this spring.

At Garden City High School, the service organizations and clubs have been busy with a variety of fund-raising activities.

Diane Veitch and Margaux DelGuidice organized a visual display of the high school's efforts entitled, "Hearts for Haiti," in which every club advisor received a colorful paper "Heart for Haiti" to fill out with the club name, the type of fund-raising activity it is conducting and the relief organization where the money will be sent.

The Human Awareness/Habit Club assembled the "Hearts for Haiti" display in early February in the library. The club also raised $90 during a bake sale for Doctors Without Borders.

Thus far, additional "Hearts" activities include: Food For Friends raised $70 and the French Club raised $200 with bake sales to benefit the American Red Cross; a "Battle of the Bands" is scheduled for April 23 with all proceeds going to Haitian relief; the Class of 2011 is donating money; Students Helping Students raised over $100 through a bake sale to benefit UNICEF; the Key/Interact Club is holding a basketball fundraiser; the Miracle Club is planning a Dodge Ball Bingo tournament on Feb. 26; and the Spanish Club is in the process of collecting clothing, shoes, toiletries, sheets, light blankets and non-perishable food items, etc. for Haitian relief.

The district would like to thank and commend students, their parents, staff members and building administrators for their leadership and generosity to the people of Haiti during this difficult time.