On Thursday, January 21st, students, staff and families at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School kicked off their efforts to raise funds for victims of Haiti’s earthquake. The School offered students the opportunity to purchase a free dress day (a minimum donation of $5) and/or fun hat day (a minimum donation of $5) and students sold popcorn at lunch and throughout the day.

“This is just the first phase of our efforts “said Headmaster Ron Ferguson. “We wanted to find a way to get funds to those in need as quickly as possible but we know that there will be great need for a long time to come so we plan to continue our efforts through at February, if not longer.”

In February, the School will execute at least one additional campaign called Hearts for Haiti. Hearts for Haiti will coincide with Valentines Day and will provide students the opportunity to purchase the opportunity to make and paint a clay heart. Already, the School has purchased more than 25 pounds of clay and anticipates it will need an additional 50 pounds if all goes well. The School then hopes to send these hearts to students in Haiti, to show them that people here in Amarillo care about them and support them.

The School’s Service Learning Coordinator Tara Lowery-Hart is even working to possibly extend the Hearts for Haiti to other Episcopal Schools throughout the region.

All sales from the free dress/hat day, popcorn sales and February’s Hearts for Haiti program will go directly to The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. The Episcopal Church has a strong presence and many Episcopal Schools were destroyed in the earthquake.

“Our older students have been keeping up with the tragic events in Haiti during current events each day and they are eager to find a way to help” said Middle School Social Studies teacher Casey Doyle. “Earlier in the year, we spent time studying Haiti, its people, and customs and now the students want to take that knowledge and do something with it. This is one of those moments in which the world seems smaller and even those who are far away seem like neighbors we need to help”.