By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald correspondent
Merrill students raise funds for tsunami victims in Asia
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In lieu of birthday presents, Olivia Kreie, left, and Rose Gronna asked for money to aid tsunami victims. Sheridan Gronna, right, donated her tooth fairy money to the cause. (Catholic Herald photo by Sallie Bachar) |
MERRILL -- "Good Morning America" was televising the devastation from the tsunami in Southeast Asia when Rose Gronna, a second grader from Tomahawk, and her mother were planning a birthday party to celebrate Rose's eighth birthday. Rose was very affected by the suffering she saw, especially of the children, said her mother, Heidi, and she asked what she could do to help. "At first she wanted to send them beds," said her mother, "but then she wanted to give them presents."
The idea for special parties took off from there. Rose, who attends St. Francis Xavier School in Merrill, had two birthday parties, one for her classmates and another for her friends in Tomahawk. Each guest was asked to bring five dollars instead of a gift. Between the two parties, Rose collected $100. Aunts and uncles and other members of her family contributed also and together sent more than $400 to the American Red Cross.
Olivia Kreie, a first grader at St. Francis, also had the same idea. With the help of her grandmother, she too asked the guests at her birthday party in January to bring money instead of presents, and received $80, which she also donated to the tsunami relief.
Not to be left out, Sheridan Gronna, Rose's sister and a classmate of Olivia, wanted to do something special too. Since her birthday is several months away, however, she donated the money she received from the tooth fairy on the three front teeth she recently lost.
Donna Conley, principal of St. Francis, is very proud, not only of these three children, but all the student body. Many were asking how they could help in the tsunami relie,f said Conley. "They were especially concerned about the children," she added. Since the school performs a service project each month to help others in need, Conley decided that February's project would be to benefit the children affected by the tsunami. Pre-K through third grade collected "change for children," while fourth through eighth grades had a competition called "penny panic," to see which class could raise the most money. A total of $757 was collected and forwarded to the diocese for distribution.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005