Bow sophomore raises money for St. Jude’s children

Bow Editor — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:34:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Sledding, skiing, snowball fights. There are plenty of activities for high school students to do on a snow day.

Bow High School sophomore Bianca Acebron found something more productive to do while New Hampshire was getting hit with a December snowstorm.

She made cupcakes.

Acebron spent her day making a few dozen cupcakes and brought them to school the following day with a goal in mind.

“I had watched a show on TV where St. Jude’s (Children’s Fund) comes on and talks about their children in need. I thought maybe people at school would donate money so I could sponsor a child for a month,” she said. “I doubled my goal, and it was really exciting.”

It costs $19 to sponsor a child for one month, so Acebron set it as her goal to raise that amount by going around the school with her vanilla and double chocolate cupcakes.

Acebron’s Bow High School classmates helped her exceed her goal, donating $40 to charity, including one student who was even willing to give $10.

“I was worried no one would be able to help me out. When I came home, my heart just felt so good that I did something to help them. It was a great feeling,” said Acebron.

The money Acebron earned has not yet gone to a child, because she now wants to take her plan to the next level by involving her fellow Student Council members.

After the holiday vacation ends, Acebron plans to ask the Student Council if they would be interested in organizing a schoolwide drive to sponsor a child for a longer period of time.

“I want to get the class involved, so we’re discussing ways to do that. If every student gave $3, it would be so helpful,” she said. “We’re looking to do some other things to raise money. We could open an account and give it to St. Jude’s.” In addition to helping children in need, Acebron said the fundraising could have another benefit.

“I think it’s really important to get involved in helping others. My grade is so diverse and we believe in different things. We don’t always get the chance to spend time together,” said Acebron. “High school will be over in a few years. We could do some more fundraisers, and while helping a good cause, it could help bring us together.”

Bow first-graders give children a happier holiday season

Bow Editor — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:25:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Whether keeping hands in need warm or giving presents to others, Bow Elementary School first-graders have learned how to give a helping hand during the holiday season.

After reading Candace Christiansen’s children’s book, “The Mitten Tree,” students in the six first-grade classes brought in unused mittens and hung them on a tree in the school’s hallway to donate to families in need.

In addition, the classes for the second consecutive year have worked out job contracts with their families to do chores to raise money that will be used to buy gifts so those less fortunate can have happier holidays.

“We wanted to get them presents because they don’t get any from Santa,” said Ben Wheeler, 6.

“It’s nice to give things the kids don’t have, and it’s good to share because they probably don’t get a lot for Christmas,” said first-grader Brianna Boone.

One of the organizers of the two drives was Colleen Snow, a first-grade teacher in her second year at Bow.

“We work really hard in the month or so before Christmas trying to get the kids to think outside of just getting gifts. We want them to think more about giving to others,” she said.

During last year’s job contract project, the first grade raised about $960 that purchased a variety of toys and clothes for needy children. So far this year, Snow said the classes have raised about $800.

“Once they get over the initial excitement of seeing all of the toys, they think about what it’s like for the kids to wake up with gifts under the tree,” said Snow. “At the beginning of the project, a lot of the kids said they could give their old toys, but they think about what it would be like if they got old toys for Christmas. It’s nice to see that growth in the kids.”

The holiday season has brought out the giving nature in all of the students. When Snow first brought up the mitten drive to the class, one student said, “I don’t even have mittens for myself.”

Another student said she had just learned how to make mittens and came to school the next day with a handmade gift for her classmate.

Snow is impressed with the empathy many of the students have shown, she said.

“I have learned that helping other people is better than helping yourself,” said first-grader Casey Cafasso.

“It’s not about giving what you like to other people, it’s about giving what the other people need,” said student Calvin Carey. “A toy isn’t much, but if it’s something that helps that is a lot better.”

When the lights and trees of the holiday season are taken down, the giving doesn’t end for Bow Elementary’s first-graders, as the children make Valentine’s Day cards and are looking to donate some of their artwork to a nursing home in Concord.

Bow News : donations

Bow sophomore raises money for St. Jude’s children

Bow first-graders give children a happier holiday season