By Staff
Tracy B. Cieniewicz, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle Junior High School students have completed the first of many fundraising events to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina who are relocating to the Hartselle area, including four new HJHS students.
Jodie Fuqua, HJHS social studies teacher, said the school has partnered with The Caring Place in Hartselle to help evacuees with rent, household goods, and other basic needs.
"Every penny the kids have raised and will continue to raise throughout the year will go directly to those who have lost everything and are now making Hartselle their new home," Fuqua explained. "We want parents and the community to know the money will stay in Hartselle and be distributed through an organization with no administration costs."
HJHS students held a five-hour challenge Sept. 16 to see which grade level could raise the most donations. A total of $2,434.65 was raised with the eighth grade winning the challenge and getting a homework free school day Sept. 19.
"We were only expecting to raise about $500 with this effort," Fuqua said. "We never imagined the response would be this great."
HJHS students have also recently donated a variety of goods to hurricane victims and raised $425 in donations with "Hat Day."
"Students were allowed to wear a hat for a donation of $1," Fuqua said. "We did the same activity for tsunami relief efforts and it was also a great success then."
HJHS students will contribute all funds raised during the month of October to the Channel One Adopt-a-School program, but fundraising activities planned for the remainder of the year will continue to benefit The Caring Place.
HJHS has planned the following hurricane relief efforts: Spare change collection, button sales, a faculty vs. seventh grade volleyball game, an ugly walk in January, a faculty basketball game in February, and dance in March.