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FARMINGTON – Mt. Blue Middle School 8th graders will be at the phones next Friday, hoping to raise money to fund relief efforts in Haiti.
The 17 students decided to try their hands at fundraising after seeing the devastation wrought by the earthquake that struck the country on Jan. 12. Many of them were already involved with Katahdin Community’s Philanthropy Project, in which students form groups and find a way to help someone in need, but according to Teacher Jayne Flagg, some were interested in helping the efforts in Haiti as well.
“They kept asking, ‘how come we’re not doing anything for Haiti,'” she said. “They wanted to make their own group and see what they could raise.”
The students set an initial goal of $500 but now think they can raise more. They organized a “hat day” last Friday, with MBMS students having the option to “buy” the right to wear a hat for the day, and raised $170 in one day.
“Five hundred would be great,” Student Courtney Austin said. “If we can make $750, or even past that, that would be amazing.”
Tomorrow the students will be at the middle school’s yard sale, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at MBMS, holding an auction and raffle. They’ve set up donation jars throughout the school, and intend to spend part of Monday walking through the downtown, passing out flyers and envelopes.
However, the students, and teachers Flagg and Maureen Oswald, are most excited about a telethon scheduled for Feb. 5, next Friday. Local radio station WKTJ intends to periodically update the county on the progress of the event, encouraging people to call phone lines at the middle school. Manned by students, callers will be given the opportunity to donate funds for the Haiti relief effort.
Flagg said the funds would be given to Red Cross, for use in the country.
Ben,
Thanks so much for the great story!! I made sure I emailed the link for the story to all of the girls in the group – they will be so excited to read it. You did a great job and it was a pleasure working with you.
Thanks again! Jayne