Last year we had a "Quarter for Quilts" slogan. Students could drop quarters in the classroom jars. All proceeds then when to help cover the cost of fleece material that was precut to lap size blankets. The PTO then hosted a "family fun night" And families each made their own no sew quilt. All quilts were then collected and delivered to the local hospital oncology unit, and then a cancer patient was given the quilt to keep warm during their chemo.
this year, we were going to do the same thing, but instead, at last minute, we decided to collect items to help those in Haiti. We will meet Thursday night for "family fun night" and sort, check expiration dates and box all of the items collected. Famiies will then deliver the boxed items to a collection station that is located about 60 miles from us.
We recently collected socks, underwear and sweatpants at our family fun night Sock Hop. We were able to restock the nurse's supplies for the coming months. We also took up a donation for Doctors Without Borders to assist the Haiti survivors.
We did a Friends helping Friends at Christmas. It was alot like a food drive but our students brought in kid desired heathly snacks and meals that we gave out to those from our school that needed them over the Christmas break. Each student who brought in food each day recieved a sticker stating "I helped a friend today. "
This one actually has/had almost gotten out of hand.
One of our classrooms (we are a impoverished preK-5th school) asked about Haiti. The guidance counselor was in the class at the time. Once it was explained about the earthquake, about what Red Cross was doing, one girl asked if the 13 cents she had in her pocket would help. She knew her older sister had 50 cents and could we get it to the Red Cross.
From that statement 'Hearts for Haiti' was born. Jars were placed in all 23 classrooms to collect pocket change. Daily the amounts were tallied. The goal set for the school was $250. The PTO stepped in and got the word out the community about what these kids were doing. Most don't have new clothes, food on the table, or even heat some days, but all went out of their way to bring in any money they could find.
After 10 days of doing this, the final tally is still not in, even though the program is over. The students brought in more than $600 themselves, all change all rolled by the PTO members. The community matched and added to the total to a unofficial total of over $1600 which will be presented to the Red Cross later this week.
Amazing what these kids came up with and did. They are being recognized by the county commissioners this week for their efforts. PTO is helping pay for the buses to make sure as many of our families and students can make it to the meeting.
This year my school families were invited to participate in Dads on Duty Holiday Extravaganza! There were so many wonderful activities for dads and young children to do together; however, my personal favorite was the station with 38 2' artificial Christmas trees to decorate; one for each room in a local Ronald McDonald House that provides living quarters for families with a child in long term hospital care. Our sponsors had ribbon, yarn, garland, small ornaments and other inexpensive items for tree decorating. Every tree was absolutely adorable. I will never forget watching our dads with their sons and daughters decorating a special tree together. I suspect this activity can be very affordable especially if you shop the holiday sales.
We try to do as much as we can for others. We are trying to teach the students the importance of giving. These efforts are mainly done as a school. We have given toiletries to our local VA hospital for Veteran's Day, food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas, money collected for the Sudan and now, Haiti. All year long projects are developed to share with others.
