Students at South Surrey’s Chantrell Creek Elementary took care of some extra business before heading off on spring break last week, raising close to $900 for earthquake relief efforts in Japan.
Trisha Neelakant, Lauren Cottrell, Kelsey Mizon, Isabella Michels and Howard Chen conceived a fundraiser March 14 after learning about the disaster in their Grade 6 class.
The goal of the campaign – called We Are All in This Together – was to collect $700 for the Red Cross by raffling off $2-tickets for a free lunch with principal Faizel Rawji.
The target was surpassed by the end of four days.
“When students feel a sense of responsibility for a country that is 8,000 miles away, we know we have instilled the right values,” Rawji said in a prepared statement.
<h2>Honk for Japan</h2>
Two local 12-year-olds have taken to the streets in an effort to raise money for Japan, the country they were studying for a school project when it was struck by a 9.0-magnitude earthquake two weeks ago.
Christian Raymond and John Jubenvil raised close to $300 in three days after standing at the corner of 27 Avenue and 168 Street this week with signs encouraging drivers to honk their horns.
The Pacific Heights Elementary students have received $1 from their parents for every horn honked.
Stacy Raymond, Christian’s mom, said the two friends plan to continue their efforts with new, fortified signs.
“They’re just wonderful boys,” she said. “They’ve taken it upon themselves.”
Money raised is to be donated to Japan relief efforts.