news-record.com

After braving frigid temperatures for nine days in the mornings and afternoons, the students at Greensboro Montessori School raised more than $2,000 to help with Haiti Earthquake disaster relief.

About 60 GMS students took turns standing outside during morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up times with cups to collect money to donate to the American Red Cross.

“I was really surprised,” said Margaret Borrego, head of middle school.

“We figured on spare change, but people were handing us $20 bills and $100 bills.”
The fundraiser is an extension of the school’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King.

“It happened on a Tuesday, and we had an assembly planned that Friday to celebrate Dr. King,” Borrego said.

Doing everything possible to help the Haitian people in need is something King would do and encourage, she said.

GMS sixth-grader Perrin Ketchum likes helping worthy causes, and there is no cause more worthy than Haiti, he said.

“Haiti is in a lot of trouble, and they need to get back to normal,” Perrin said.

“And even Haiti’s normal is still in a little bit of trouble, so if we help them now, they’ll be able to help themselves if they get in trouble again.”

Sixth-grader Andrew Sypniewski said he wanted to do his part to help out.

“It made me feel really good because this shows that if everyone does a little bit, it could turn out to be a lot,” he said.

The money raised will go to the American Red Cross for relief efforts. The students at GMS are so motivated to continue helping, they have committed to donating the proceeds from their annual Rock-a-thon.

The event is like a marathon, but it’s done in rocking chairs. For information about the Rock-a-thon, call the school at 668-0119.

Contact Tiffany S. Jones at 373-7157 or tiffany.jones@news-record.com