PORT ANGELES — Students and staff at two Port Angeles schools, Roosevelt Elementary and Stevens Middle schools, are raising funds for JapanAid, a local fund initiated to assist in relief efforts after the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
The goal is to collect $5,000 to give to the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Their motto is: “If we all give a little, it’ll help a lot.”
Volunteers are raising funds throughout the week.
Donations are collected each morning before classes start — at Roosevelt in the entryway to the school and at Stevens in the hall near the art room.
Community members also can donate to the fund.
Kicked off Monday
One of the organizers, Roosevelt Elementary para-educator Warren Horsley, a musician and songwriter, wrote a song titled “If Not You” and performed it at Monday’s Roosevelt student assembly to kick off its campaign, said Tina Smith-O’Hara, district spokeswoman.
Ryoko Seto, an international student from Japan who attends Peninsula College, talked with Roosevelt students at the assembly and encouraged them to donate funds to JapanAid.
Teacher Sharon Fritschler’s class started a study of the geography of Japan.
“Then, they wrote essays about why it is important for us to know about what is going on around the world,” Fritschler said.
“They understood the big ideas — to learn from the experience of others and to support and help them,” the teacher said.
“The fundraiser grew from that awareness.
“Their philanthropic spirit grows out of experience — the Roosevelt Holiday Food Drive, Pennies for Peace, Relief for Haiti . . .”
Fritschler’s son, Nick Fritschler, had the idea of expanding the fundraiser to Stevens Middle School’s Associated Student Body.
Proceeds from a Stevens Middle School dance Friday will go to JapanAid.
Funds will be funneled though the Roosevelt Parent Teacher Association.
Funds can come from any source — students, staff and community members.
Community members can donate by dropping off donations, cash or checks to the Roosevelt PTA at Roosevelt Elementary, 106 Monroe Road, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. this week.
For more information about JapanAid, phone Roosevelt Elementary at 360-452-8973.
