Diane Raver
After seeing the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti, Oldenburg Academy seniors initiated ideas to collect money to bring relief to disaster victims.
With the help of community members, they raised close to $10,000, which was donated to the Missionaries of Charity, a religious order founded by Mother Teresa and her followers.
Seniors divided into groups and came up with various projects or activities. “We went to Sam’s Club and bought candy bars and sold them,” reports Olivia Eckstein.
“My group raffled off basketballs at the homecoming game. One was signed by the girls’ basketball team and one by boys’ basketball team members. We sold tickets for $1 each or six for $5,” says Patrick Kolks. The balls were donated by secretary Jackie Fitzgerald and principal Bettina Rose.
“We sat outside of Kroger and had posters and a slide show .... (about Haiti) and were asking for donations,” notes Audrey Rozman.
“Our group had the idea we could get the grade schools we went to involved .... We gave them a bag of out-of-uniform passes to sell for $1 along with a piece of paper with a fact about Haiti,” recalls Dan Baltz. St. Louis; St. Mary’s, Aurora; and St. Michael’s, Brookville, schools participated.
“We had penny wars” between OA and St. Louis School homerooms “to see who could raise the most money,” announces David Benson. The winning class received a pizza party.
Sherri Kirschner’s eighth-grade class at St. Louis won the competition, collecting over $700. “I sent an e-mail to my homeroom families telling them about the contest and about how we were raising money for Haiti relief,” she reveals.
Why did the teens want to support the cause? “They needed our help. It was a time of suffering, and many people lost their families,” remarks Leo Giesey.
“We saw the devastation that happened to their country on the news, and I wanted to help any way I could,” emphasizes Ben Werner.
“I was amazed at how much money came in. Some families were planning to donate to Red Cross Haiti relief, but chose to let us put it toward our class effort,” Kirschner recalls. “What really amazed me is that on the last day of the contest, the eighth grade went on a field trip and to lunch at McDonald’s.
“When we came back, I said, ‘This is the last chance to help the people of Haiti’ and almost every child dug into his or her pocket for their change from lunch and gave that to the cause. For some it was just a few cents and others gave up to $5. In those five minutes, we raised over $40 to add to our classroom total!”
The educator admits, “I was awestruck at the generosity our families showed. It never fails to amaze me when someone is in need, the St. Louis family always comes through.”
"When you help people, you feel good and you can help change the world and make a difference,” points out Savanna Volz.
"I was excited, proud and felt that we had really made a difference in someone's life,” William Hutchins comments.
The teacher believes that her class “learned about helping others and the part ... about the lunch change proves that they did. They could have easily kept the money and gotten a snack after school or taken it home to put in their piggy banks, but they chose to donate it to the people of Haiti.
“Also, not one time did any of my students ask if we won, or who won. That shows to me that they were doing it for the right reasons, to help the less fortunate, not just for the pizza.”
Another way OA seniors raised money was through jeans passes, which allows students and faculty who purchased them to wear jeans every Friday until spring break.
The seniors recognized the importance of reaching out to Haiti’s people: “I remember when I once took a trip to a large European city .... and saw poverty in a large sense .... I was taken aback by all these people in a densely populated area, an entire section of slums … and people really well off never did anything to actively help them.” When the earthquake occurred, “I felt like I was one of the people who was well off, and it made sense to help,” Benson stresses.
After seeing “the videos of devastation, I felt like I had to give back because I saw what we all take for granted,” Eckstein says.
“As Catholic beings, we see everyone as our own brothers and sisters, and we should give out what we have .… Every little bit will help them,” Kolks maintains.
Alicia Tilly, senior class adviser and religion teacher, was very happy with the class’ achievements. “I was most impressed with the fact that they followed through with their commitment to help others out.”
Baltz adds, “It felt good doing something, planning something and executing something on our own .... having that freedom and also feeling the sense of accomplishment.”
Kolks agrees, “The 37 kids in our class came together and raised over $9,000 .... If other people did the same thing, who knows how much we could send.”
Diane Raver can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 114; or diane.raver@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.
