Christina Students Continue to Respond to the Tragedy in Haiti

Students and staff at Shue-Medill Middle School held several fundraisers to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti recently.  Students sold charm pops, had a "Hat Day" for students and a "Jeans Day" for teachers, and collected $1,000.05.  The money will be sent to CARE for the Haiti Relief Fund to purchase food, water or tents for needy families.

The students at Downes Elementary School were moved by what happened in Haiti.  They decided to look in the newspaper to find a way they could help in a more direct way in lieu of collecting money (which they also did).  They read that a group (Shoes2Share) would be collecting shoes and hygiene items and delivering them directly.  The students liked that idea so they contacted them and found a local collection center at the 1614 Fitness Center located on South College Avenue, right in Newark.  Mrs. Schwartz made a school wide announcement and the school also held individual classroom shoe drives.  The response was terrific and students and their families filled the collection barrel twice at the fitness center.  The people there were amazed at the generosity of the students and their families.

The students also held a Hat Day that  raised $90.25.  This was organized and promoted by the 3rd grade classes.  University of Delaware Physical Therapy held a “Jeans for Haiti Day” and raised $215 for Downes to donate.   A parent, Sasha Quintana, organized this event. Both donations were made to the American  Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund.

Fifth graders also wanted to do something special for Haiti Relief. With so many young children orphaned and injured, rooms 210 and 211 decided to help the babies of Haiti.  Over the course of two weeks, they collected boxes of diapers, formula, jars of baby food, baby wipes, and other baby essential materials.  All donations were donated to Pack the Bus and were to be given to hospitals and orphanages in Haiti.