Hearts For Haiti

The Love Season Sends Help to Haiti
by Adam Fortier-Brown, Ryan Woodman and Sissy Smith
Gardiner Regional Middle School (Team 7-2)

I’m sure you have all recently heard about the devastating earthquake in Haiti that shook the world in January. Many homes were destroyed leaving thousands dead and more than a million homeless or missing. Team 7-2 of Gardiner Regional Middle School thought of “Hearts for Haiti”. They teamed up with the Cole Land Transportation Museum which pledged to match up to $2,500
per school that participated in fundraising for Haitian relief. The official count of what the school as a whole raised was $861.10, with a generous donation from our former principal, Mr. Warren. The Cole Museum will match our donation to Doctors Without Borders.

Other school activities to raise money for Haiti are continuing until April 15.

Team 7-2 had a brilliant idea about how to raise the money. We provided the opportunity for students to purchase a Valentine’s Hershey Kiss and attach a note that was delivered at school on Friday, February 12 for a twenty-five cent donation.

Team 7-2 students stayed after school to organize and package the kisses for delivery. We asked the volunteers, “How has being part of “Hearts for Haiti” had an impact on you, and what do you now believe a middle school student can accomplish?” This is what they said.

~ Being a part of “Hearts for Haiti” has made me realize how easy it is to raise money for people in need. I believe that middle school students can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it and can accomplish even more with their friends helping them. -Julia Wainwright

~ Being a part of “Hearts for Haiti” has shown me that even though I am very small in this
world, I can do big things. I realize a middle school student can accomplish very much if they
put their heart, effort, and full intention into it. I realize that we were not only helping Haiti, but Haiti helped us. They helped us by showing ourselves we can help bigger things than us. One person can make a difference. -Elizabeth Nelson

~Being a part of Hearts for Haiti had a very large impact on me. It made me think how fortunate I am to have everything I have. Also, thinking about it, if I didn’t have those things I would be nowhere. As I counted the pink “Hearts for Haiti” slips, I looked forward to donating the funds to Haiti. Middle school students can accomplish anything, if they try! -Madeline Reny

~ Being a part of “Hearts for Haiti” has really made me feel like I’m doing something
(with my friends) that can make a difference in a community that has been so tragically hurt by a horrible earthquake. I really feel like this is helping me accomplish something that I want to do, make a difference! I believe that middle school students can make a difference for the better with the smallest actions, like sending your friends a twenty-five cent piece of candy or putting spare change in a “Heart for Haiti” jar. We can do something big with something little. -Amy Fortier-Brown

~ Helping out Haiti has made me feel like I am more than a middle school student. It has made me feel like I can make a difference in what I do. I believe middle school students can do
anything they set their minds to. If they try and do their best in what they do, they can
accomplish a lot. -Tabitha Spencer

~ It has impacted me a lot because I know that I can make a difference in their lives. I feel
grateful that I can make a big difference by just staying after school putting Hershey Kisses in
bags. I believe that anyone can make a difference no matter how old they are. Just a few cents
can do so much to help Haiti in some way. -Tayla McGary

~ Being a part of “Hearts for Haiti” has made me happy by letting me know that I am changing someone’s life. That makes me proud. I believe that middle school students can accomplish anything, but only if they believe they can! -Mariah Lang

~ Being a part of “Hearts for Haiti” has helped me realize that when someone needs help,
we help them. I feel good about helping others. I like to partake in school activities, so it was great when I heard we could help. Doing this with my friends was even better. We got to hang
out and have fun while helping others. Helping others is good for the mind, body, and soul. Next
time I get the chance to do something like this, I will, and you should too. - Ashley Weeks