February 25, 2005/Adar I 16 5765, Volume 57, No. 26
Pennies from heavenSchoolchildren aim to help tsunami victims
STEPHANIE N. HENSCHEL
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 Jacob Rosenberg, left, and Carrington Lepley count pennies they raised for their class's "Kisses for Kids" fund raiser. The third and fourth grade at Gan Yeladeem: The Looking Glass School created the drive to benefit child victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Photo courtesy of Gan Yeladeem |
Third- and fourth-graders at Gan Yeladeem: The Looking Glass School have taken it to heart.
The schoolchildren have created a fund raiser, "Kisses for Kids," to benefit the children affected in the tsunami in Southeast Asia.
When the schoolchildren returned to school after winter break - and after the natural disaster on Dec. 26 - they wanted to do something to help.
"They wanted to take part in something," says teacher Sara Abrams, program coordinator.
Several ideas were discussed, but it was Stacey Arkules, a room mother who came up with the pennies idea.
The children were given bags of Hershey's Kisses, which they then sold for a penny during recess. They visited each class at the school to explain the project, Abrams says.
And some children went one step beyond selling the candy during recess.
Cassidy Sisow, for example, went around her neighborhood to collect donations. She received $147 from that excursion.
Another student, Joey Horowitz, searched his home for pennies, gathering them up to take to school. His mother even got involved, placing a jar of Kisses on her desk for sale - for only a penny.
Susan K. Heller, Ph.D., principal of the school, says the fund raiser idea is great.
"One of the goals of our school is to provide an opportunity for them to become involved in the community and do social action," she says.
At last count, about $500 has been raised. The children have a goal of $1,500. Many of them have been busy rolling coins and counting up the change. Washington Mutual donated the rolling papers, and one student's aunt came in to teach them how to roll the coins quickly.
Money from the fund raiser goes to the Save the Children Asia Earthquake Fund. Those interested in helping the students reach their goal can call Abrams, 602-493-1222.