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Lynn Kirk student shares art of giving
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .After seeing the destruction in Japan, Lynn Kirk first-grader Alivia Franklin decided to raise money to send to the Red Cross. She made art for friends and family, and raised $100 to send to the organization.
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After hearing about Alivia Franklin’s fundraising, Lynn Kirk second-graders decided to help out as well. Through many creative endeavors, they brought the grand total of funds to send to the Red Cross to $460. They were, from left, Joe Bartholomew (back), Chelsie Wheeler, Emma Marek, Angelina Diana, India Gatts, and Coty Beeler (front), Shianne Bigelow, Jasmine Dahl, Dylan Roby, Aniello Infante, and kneeling, Justin Mosser and Amber Delmark.
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When teacher Tammy Franklin told her second-graders that their grand fundraising total for the Red Cross equaled $460, she received some very happy and surprised faces.
By SARAH FOOR
Alivia Franklin, a first-grader at Lynn Kirk Elementary, was watching the news the day a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northeastern Japan on March 27.
The day after, Alivia knew she wanted to help families in Japan by raising money for food and water.
“I drew some pictures and then had an art show at my house. I had people pay a quarter to get in, and I sold my drawings for a quarter too, but people started giving me one or five dollars for my pictures,” Franklin explained.
She began to draw pictures at school, making a beach landscape for her teacher Tammy Deeley and a camping picture for school secretary Joyce Swoger, and donations for Japan started to grow.
Alivia’s mom, Tammy Franklin, is a second-grade teacher at the school. When Franklin’s classroom and other second-graders heard about Alivia’s fundraising, they wanted to help out, too.
“On the news, I saw a big wave go through a farm, and I said ‘Wow, I think they really need help there,’” second-grader Joseph Bartholomew observed. He sold drawings and caricatures and raised $17.30.
Emma Marek decided to jump rope for Japan, and completed 71 jumps in one minute. Her efforts added $29.17 to the fundraising. One of the largest donations was from Justin Mosser, who raised $186.50 by selling his artwork.
“I started selling my pictures and one of my mom’s friends bought one for $25. The money I raised is the most I’ve ever seen in my life. I know it’s going somewhere good,” Mosser said.
Tammy Franklin said she’s glad her daughter’s idea was an inspiration to others.
“Alivia is a very thoughtful and compassionate little girl. She always wants to make people feel better, even if they’re very far away from her. She started this project by herself, and I’m glad that she gets to see the impact an idea can make,” Franklin said of her daughter.
In 2010, Alivia Franklin raised $60 on her own that she sent to relief efforts in Haiti. For Japan, she only wanted to do better than her previous fundraising.
On April 8, Alivia counted her funds and raised $101.78. With the help of the second-graders, Lynn Kirk will be sending a total $460 to Red Cross relief for Japan.