Students: Haiti Can Not Be Forgotten

Pretzel and bake sales, funds for an orphanage, luminaries and used jeans show that Cranford students have the survivors of Haiti on their minds and in their hearts.

"I obviously have never been through anything like this, but I somehow could feel for these people once I heard about this tragedy," said Dina Mansour, a senior at Cranford High School. "No one deserves to live under these conditions."

"Once again our Cranford students are coming to the forefront in displaying acts of kindness in generous ways," said Superintendent Gayle Carrick said at a January 25 board of education meeting. "We encourage everyone to participate in this fund-raising initiative."

CHS students organized a bake sale, bringing in $400 for the cause. John Arlotta, supervisor of academic affairs, said such sales usually make about $75.

Initially, the CHS students were going to donate the funds to a recognized large-scale charity such as UNICEF or the Red Cross, but decided they wanted a "more personalized effort" and chose an orphanage, he said.

The students' generosity is reminiscent to how they responded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"They realize this is going to be a long-term thing," said Arlotta. "I would love if this somehow would turn into something similar."

CHS activities will culminate at an Illuminate Hope for Haiti event to raise funds and awareness.

The event will occur Friday at sundown at CHS. The luminaries will be sold $1 or 10 for $12. In addition, Cranford citizens are invited to light their porches and walkways to also raise hope.

The Share the Dream Club, an extracurricular group at CHS, has placed a collection can in the main office and asked that everyone donates $1, Arlotta said. Their goal is to make $1,000.

In addition, students at CHS are working with the clothing store, Aeropostale, and the program, Jeans for Teens, where students can donate previously worn jeans.

Other initiatives in Cranford schools include pretzel sales at Brookside Place and Walnut Avenue schools. Collection pans are set up at every school as well.

Carrick also referred to hat days at the schools, where students can donate money in order to wear at hat in their respective schools.

Once all the funds have been collected, she said, the district will submit all the money at once, with the exception of the CHS bake sale.

"We hope to make a significant difference; whether in the lives of one person or hopefully more than that," said Mansour. "We also want these people to know they are not alone and that there are people are out there who care about them and want to care about them."

Cara Costa, a sophomore at CHS, said any help the students can provide can benefit people in Haiti.

"For such a tragedy to occur in Haiti, the country was in pretty bad shape to begin with and this just seems so unfair," Costa said. "Even our small contribution can make a difference and go a long way."

Costa also said through providing assistance to a singular orphanage they can make a real positive impact.

"We would really rather contribute to something small and make a bigger difference directly rather than contribute to a large organization and make a small difference," she said.

She also feels getting other students involved is an important part of the process.

"It is extremely important to educate our fellow classmates about the effects of the earthquake," Costa said.

Valerie Podbelski, another sophomore at CHS, said the images she saw on television spurred her into action.

"All the horrible pictures and video I saw on the computer; I just couldn't sit back and do nothing, so I wanted to something," Podbelski said.

She also feels assisting the orphanage creates a personal bond she hopes will endure.

"If it's more personal, we hope people will stay involved with this cause longer," she said.

While there are positive examples of charity in Cranford, as well as the rest of the country and world, people need to recognize the effort must be long-term, she said.

"This is not a problem that cannot be fixed in a day; it is important to understand that Haiti cannot be forgotten and it's going to take a long time to rebuild," she said.