Student efforts to help Haitian earthquake victims paying off in big donations

Efforts by Lapeer students to help people devastated by the earthquake in Haiti are paying off in the form of significant donations to relief efforts.

The February 5 “Helping Haiti Heal Benefit Concert!” and silent auction, organized by Lapeer East High School students Katherine Baeckeroot and Rebecca Wright, raised $1,785.28 that will be donated to the relief effort through the Healing Hands International Organization.

The concert featured East junior Tate Robinson playing the guitar and singing, East Social Studies Teacher Al Margrif offering his brand of acoustic rock and a performance by Rick Samano, owner of Lapeer Music in downtown Lapeer.

Students also conducted a silent auction before the concert. Auction items included gift certificates and merchandise from local businesses and handmade items.

At Zemmer Middle School, students helped the cause recently with a “Hats for Haiti Day.” Sponsored by the Student Council, students paid $1 to wear hats to class for the day. Students and staff raised $513.

Students at Mayfield Elementary School raised $391.95 for relief efforts during their recent fundraiser. Students in Ms. Shellie Forgione’s third grade and Ms. Maja Burris’s sixth grade raised the money by collecting $1 dollar for students to add their names to a Hearts for Haiti wall.

Students find creative ways to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief efforts

Money raised during a concert at Lapeer East High School will be donated to the Haitian relief effort through the Healing Hands International Organization.

The “Helping Haiti Heal Benefit Concert!” which is being organized by East students Katherine Baeckeroot and Rebecca Wright, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, February 5, at the Lapeer East High School Auditorium and will feature East junior Tate Robinson playing the guitar and singing. Lapeer East Social Studies Teacher Al Margrif, who has played guitar since he was 12, will offer his brand of acoustic rock.

Rick Samano, owner of Lapeer Music in downtown Lapeer, is bringing his electric guitar for his part of the concert. Tickets are $5.

“My heart was torn by the images of the devastation on the island of Haiti,” said Mr. Margrif. “When I was asked if I could play a few songs in a fundraiser, I jumped at the chance. I love the students at Lapeer East and I wanted to help them in their effort to raise funds for the people of Haiti.”

Students also plan to host a silent auction during the concert.

At Lapeer West, senior Wei Li Crawford is continuing her effort to raise money for Haiti by selling T-shirts. The shirts are $10 and are available at Lapeer West High School.

Lapeer East students in Mr. Russell Reitz’s Spanish classes raised more than $300 for the Helping Haiti Heal drive. The top class was Mr. Reitz’s third hour class.

Lapeer students step up to help Haiti

Lapeer students and staff have opened their hearts, imaginations and wallets in finding creative ways to raise money to help with relief efforts in Haiti since the devastating earthquake on January 12.

Lapeer West Student Council voted to send $1,000 to the American Red Cross and West senior Wei Li Crawford (see photo at left) worked with Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Mary Haslinger to organize Haitian relief collections during basketball games at the school Friday, January 22, and again on February 12.

Wei Li has collected gift cards and donations from local businesses and put posters up around school. Nearly $200 was raised at the January 22 basketball game.

“It warms my heart,” said Hollie Marcola, staff advisor to West’s Student Council. “There are a lot of good people in this world.”

The sixth-grade class of Ms. Maja Burris and Ms. Shellie Forgione’s third-grade class at Mayfield Elementary School recently began a study of earthquakes and have started a collection of change to donate to the American Red Cross. The students have formed a committee called “Hearts for Haiti”.

Paper hearts will be sold for a $1 and hung in the hallway with the donor’s name. The goal is to raise $500 to donate to the “Save the Children Haiti Emergency Fund.”
Schickler Elementary School has set up a collection jug in the hall for the next month to collect for relief. Students at Schickler are also having a race to Haiti with teachers’ names on a long sheet of paper. Each time a student donates a quarter it will put their teacher’s name on a on sticker closer to Haiti. The winning teacher and class win a prize.

The Student Council at Zemmer Junior High School at Rolland-Warner had a “Hat Day for Haiti” on Friday, January 22 and raised $272.10. Hats are not usually allowed in school, but for a $1 donation students were allowed to have a hat for the day.

Lapeer East students sold bracelets for $2 starting on Wednesday, January 20 and continue through February 5 with all the money going to Healing Hands International to help with Haiti relief. So far more than $450 has been raised.

In addition to the bracelets, Katherine Baeckeroot and Rebecca Wright are organizing a Haiti Relief Concert from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Lapeer East Auditorium on Friday, February 5.

Lynch Elementary School staff and students have already raised more than $100 collecting pennies and loose change. During the week of January 25-29 students can donate 25-cents for the privilege of wearing a hat in school.

Students on the Murphy Elementary School Student Council are having a bake sale on Wednesday, January 27, to raise money for Haiti.

Ms. Elizabeth Gorkowski, a Turrill Elementary School teacher and her third grade class organized a “Hats Off for Haiti” fund raiser. Every Friday in February students will be able to wear a hat at school for 50-cents each week. A bake sale to help the Haitians is scheduled for Wednesday, February 24.