CONNEAUT — A young girl’s compassion for strangers half a world away was saluted by the American Red Cross Friday morning.
Abigaile Webster, a third-grade student at Gateway Elementary School, was applauded for launching a campaign that raised more than $1,700 for Haiti earthquake relief. Abigaile broached the subject with school staff, then promoted the fundraiser over a period of weeks.
The result was a flood of coins and other cash to assist victims of the January disaster.
“We needed a hand cart to carry it all,” said Lisa Ferrick, Abigaile’s teacher.
Renee Palagyi, executive director of Ashtabula County’s Red Cross, came to the school Friday to collect a check. Palagyi praised Abigaile and fifth-grader Sierra Brink — a big donor to the campaign — at a ceremony in Abigaile’s classroom.
“Nice job, ladies,” Palagyi said.
Abigaile said she was motivated to act after hearing about the earthquake on the news.
“I heard that Haiti was destroyed,” she said. “I looked on the computer and saw pictures (of the destruction).”
Beginning in January, Abigaile promoted her project, which included reading a speech to classmates over the school’s public address system. Was she nervous?
“The first time,” Abigaile said, smiling. “The school helped out.”
Sierra was saluted for raising a large amount of cash for Abigaile’s campaign. Sierra, too, was spurred to help after seeing images of the suffering, she said.
Abigaile’s project came as no surprise to her teacher.
“She is a very kind student,” Ferrick said.
Gateway is the latest school to rally around the Haiti relief effort, Palagyi said.
“Many schools are responding,” she said. “It seems every school (has a campaign). I’m amazed by the generosity.”
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$1,700 for earthquake relief
Conneaut elementary student mobilizes her school to help Haiti
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