U.D. students raise money for victims of house fire
UPPER DARBY >> Bernadette Clark may have lost her house on the 900 block of Anderson Avenue to a fire back in March, but she and her family have been receiving help from the Drexel Hill community ever since.
The Clark family got some assistance from even the youngest of community members.
Last Monday afternoon, Clark received $900 on behalf of a student-led fund-raising initiative at Aronimink Elementary School, located just across the street from where the fire took place and where Clark’s own children went to school.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Clark, eventually holding back tears of gratitude as she addressed the school in its open play area. She later said she was both surprised, and not, to receive such outreach from a school her children had previously benefitted from.
“It just shows you that it’s a school that inspires the community to take part … and to reach out to other people. It’s really touching. This is said Clark.
The funds raised were the product of three fifth-grade students: Maeghan McLain; Darla McCarthy; and Bella Cirillo. Together they created a fund raising plan and made a raffle basket full of movies, games and sweet treats and sold tickets to win the basket for 50 cents each. Ticket sales ran throughout the school for over a week, getting a big pull during their spring concert in early April.
McLain said it feels really good her community.
“We gave a lot of money and that’ll definitely help,” she said. “If that was me, I would like that because I would lose everything. That would help me a lot.”
Principal Brian Booher, impressed with the students’ initiative, decided to match the funds raised.
“When students step up like the way they did without being prompted by me or any adult in the building, you want to step up and support them in any way you can,” he said. “I knew they had a great idea and I knew it was going to put a hole in my pocket, but it was well worth it.” It gives you hope for everybody. wonderful and personal,” to help