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Hearts Helping Haiti

A fundraising effort by the students of Rhyne Elementary School for the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti

In January of 2010, Life in Gastonia was contacted about a fund raising effort that had begun with the students at Rhyne Elementary. The students wanted to help the Red Cross Relief efforts for the victims of the Haiti Earthquake. We have posted a letter from Grace Costner, Rhyne Elementary School Counselor, that best decribes the project. We would also like to give special recognition to the following people for the efforts and contributions that helped these students exceed thier goal and prove that West Gastonia has heart too!

TreeScape
Ronnie Pendelton and the 8th Street Baptist Church
Annette Carter
Steve Hall of High Caliber Athletics in Bessemer City
Susan Neely
Kathy Harrington
Sharon Whisnant of BB&T
Grace Costner
Allison King
Robert Kellogg
Wanda Zanhow
Todd Pierceall

After receiving recognition form the County Commissioners, the students and their families were treated to a party at the school funded in part by your generous donations. We are thrilled at the response by all of our supporters and you truly showed what Gaston Neighbors can do. THANK YOU!

We received the following Thank You letter from the school counselor, Grace Costner, and we wanted to share it with everyone that helped or donated with this special project.

Rhyne Elementary School

1900 W. Davidson Ave.

Gastonia, NC 28052

(704)866-6098

Todd Pierceall

Life In Gastonia

Dear Mr. Pierceall,

The students and staff of Rhyne Elementary want to thank you for supporting our “Hearts Helping Haiti” project.” We were so surprised when members of the community offered to help us. Because of the publicity we received through your web-site, not only did you help the people in Haiti who were in crisis, but you helped the students and families of Rhyne Elementary as well.

I had certain lessons in mind for my students when I started this project. However, the lessons they learned on the side with help from community members like you were more valuable. They learned that they are a part of a greater community that supports and cares about them. They learned that when you step up and do what’s right, no matter how small the act, people notice and support you. They learned that when people work together for good, a little turns into a lot.

Thank you also for supporting us at the County Commissioner’s Meeting. I was so glad to meet you because the work you are doing for the community will impact our school and the lives of our children. Please let all those that donated the money know that we appreciate their support and generosity towards our school.

Grace Costner

School Counselor

The following letter was sent to the School Board and Administration:

Rhyne Elementary Hearts Helping Haiti Project

As the school counselor at Rhyne, I felt strongly that our students needed to understand and participate in the efforts to help the devastation in Haiti. However, I was hesitant to suggest it because so many of our families struggle daily to take care of their needs. With my principal’s approval, I decided to talk to a class that I visit every Friday to get their reaction.

After talking about Haiti, finding it on a map, discussing the normal life of Haitian children and then discussing the results of the earthquake, one student pointed at Haiti and said, “It’s so small and the rest of the world is so big. We should be able to help them.” That’s when I knew we must do this. Before I left the room, they had come up with the title, “Hearts Helping Haiti,” and wanted to know when they could bring money. One of those students actually brought money before I had announced the project to the school and had a collection plan in place!

I set our school goal for $250, about $11.00 per class, and was determined we would reach it even if I wrote the check! Students began bringing money on Wednesday, January 20, mostly coins. Lots of pennies!! A display was made in the cafeteria area to record our progress by class and as a school. I did not make this a competition between classes because I wanted students to give for the kids in Haiti, not to win a contest. Any reward needed to be intrinsic.

Our PTO president, Allison King, put the information on a community website, Life in Gastonia, edited by Todd Pierceall of Prestige Properties. As a result, our project grew significantly with community support. Treescape President, Tracy Philbeck, called and said that he wanted to match our $250 to support our students’ efforts to help others. Steve Hall of High Caliber Athletics in Bessemer City gave both a personal donation and a company donation to also match the $250 goal we had set. Rev. Ronnie Pendleton of 8^th Street Church of God in Bessemer City gave us a donation from the church for another $150. Annette Carter, School Board Chairman, and Susan Neeley, Director of Health Services for Gaston County Schools, sent even more! The students were so inspired by others supporting their project and they wouldn’t be outdone. Our project ended on January 29. Rhyne Elementary students collected over $900 and with the community donations we had a final total of $1616.20!

We are so grateful to the West End Branch of BB&T, and particularly Sharon Whisnant, for graciously taking our many rolls of change. Chuck Bridger represented the Red Cross at both our K-2 and 3-5 Awards Programs and shared with the students the significance of what this donation will do for the people who are suffering in Haiti.

Lessons learned: (1) When everyone does a little it adds up to a whole lot.

(2) Community support makes a difference.

(3) Rhyne Elementary has wonderful, caring children!

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Hearts Helping Haiti