Students’ allowances go to tsunami relief

BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

SPOTSWOOD — The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

That’s one lesson Spotswood students learned during their recent fund-raiser to aid victims of the Southeast Asia tsunami. Even though they donated small amounts of money — everything from loose change to allowances — it all added up to a total of nearly $3,000.

Students at the Memorial, Schoenly and Appleby schools banded together for the relief effort, which was spearheaded by PTA President Fran Rieser. Over a four-week period, the students collected just under $2,900, all of which will be donated to UNICEF, said Donna Faulkenberry, a PTA member who helped coordinate the effort.

The goal was simple enough — place a can at every classroom in the three schools and try to raise as much money as possible. The collections were totaled weekly, and when all was said and done, students at the Schoenly School had raised $562, while those at the Appleby School brought in $1,381 and pupils at the Memorial School brought in $855, Donna Faulkenberry said.

Stephen Faulkenberry, a third-grader who participated, said the reason for giving was simple.

“Because [the victims] lost everything in their lives and we haven’t,” he said.

His mother, Donna, said the effort began in the middle of January and ran four straight weeks. UNICEF was chosen as the recipient because those involved wanted the effort to be for kids, by kids.

“We just asked kids to collect loose change — coins they found, lunch money, allowances,” Donna Faulken-berry said. “We emphasized that even a little can do a lot for kids of the tsunami.”

Once a week the cans were collected and the money was counted, she said. The school principals would then announce how much was raised.

“[The principals] also talked it up and got kids excited about it,” Donna Faulkenberry said.

“We thought it would be a small donation, but it turned into thousands,” she added.

“My thought was it was all about kids helping kids,” Rieser said. “That little bit of pocket change would help these kids with a medical bill, or clothes, or a meal. I was very, very impressed with how it added up.”

Donna Faulkenberry also said the students were very enthusiastic about the project.

“They took ownership of the project,” she said. “They were excited and hoping to be able to help. We were so proud of them. We were astonished at how much they gave and how much they cared.”

Some students, in fact, set up collection cans in their own homes, hoping to solicit money from friends and family, she said.

On Monday, the schools presented a ceremonial check to UNICEF during a ceremony that included Superintendent of Schools Anthony Vaz and Middlesex County Schools Superintendent Patrick Piegari.

Stephen said his classmates wanted to do a lot for the victims.

“We were amazed at their compassion and dedication to help these victims of the tsunami,” Donna Faulkenberry said.