Schools

Snapshot: Churchill Fourth-Graders Raise $300 for Haiti

Send your community photos to steven.jack@patch.com

 A short story read to her class resulted in a big surprise for 4th grade teacher, Dana Barnett of Churchill Elementary. 

After returning from a day off, the teacher happily learned of the giving spirit inspired in her students just a day before.  The children, who are 9 and 10 years old, spontaneously started a fundraiser called “Help Haiti” in response to learning about the hardships so many Haitians face on a daily basis. 

“I couldn’t believe it when I found out the kids had raised $87 in the day I was gone,” says Barnett, who says the two-week effort eventually resulted in $300 donated to Village Partners International (VPI), a non-profit committed to partnering with villages in underprivileged countries on projects that create independence and are self-sustaining.  “When I saw what the students were able to accomplish in just one day, I knew we needed to get behind them and support what they were trying to do.” 

Find out what's happening in Oswegowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

From lining school hallways with informational posters, to collecting pennies from each classroom, the students and school worked together to make the unplanned fundraiser a success. 

Churchill’s principal, Tammie Harmon, was thrilled to witness the students’ giving spirit shine within school walls. 

Find out what's happening in Oswegowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It is so rewarding to see the 4th grade students' learning and research in school transfer to helping others in real life who are in need.  The students have ignited a new found passion within themselves and have awakened other students to sense the urgency to help those who are less fortunate,” Harmon says.  “It's so amazing that elementary age students at Churchill have demonstrated the ability to show compassion towards others in this way.  It's been exciting to watch their progress and I am so very proud of our students!”

A personal connection to VPI through one student’s family provided the perfect place to donate the funds.  Dr. Sylvia Campbell, a general surgeon from Tampa, FL and president of the VPI board of directors, was on one of many annual trips to Haiti when she received a Facebook message about the Churchill students’ efforts and desire to donate through VPI. 

“I was sitting in the clinic in Haiti crying after I received the message,” says Dr. Campbell.  “We are proud and honored to be a part of the students’ beautiful hearts and spirits.” 

The monies will specifically be used for the organization’s Food for Healing program, which feeds and promotes healing in patients in third world countries, where hospitals typically do not provide patients with meals. 

“This program improves the patients’ nutrition, promotes healing, gives jobs to the cooks and supports the local economy by purchasing food from the farmers,” says Dr. Campbell, who plans to Skype with the Churchill 4th graders to extend her gratitude and ensure the students feel a strong personal connection to the work they’re helping with in Haiti. 

Village Partners International (www.villagepartnersinternational.org) is a non-profit organization that partners with other "villages" to help them help themselves.  Growing out of work of the Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida, it now does work in Africa, Haiti, and with migrant workers in Florida. 

Special thanks to Molly Logan Anderson for providing this photo and article.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here