I.F. Cox students do their part for Nepal earthquake relief

Tina Wideen of the Medicine Hat and area Red Cross accepts a donation from I.F. Cox Grade 3 student, Alyssa Jaeger for Nepal relief while her Grades 2 and 3 classmates look on. Both Grades raised the money.

By Tim Kalinowski
Grade 3 and 2 students at I.F. Cox School in Redcliff had a very special presentation for the Medicine Hat and area Red Cross last Wednesday. The kids used their school art projects to raise $314 to help people in Nepal still suffering from the recent earthquakes and landslides in that disaster ravaged nation.
“As part of our social studies curriculum we really talk about being global citizens and helping other people in the world,” explained I.F. Cox Grade 3 teacher Candace Robins. “It so happened that disaster hit while we were talking a lot about how to help people. And what could we do to help others in the world. Because of the news they had been watching they knew about Nepal and had this idea to support Nepal.”
To help raise the money Grade 3 students made pinch pots, and volunteered their own time to sell them at Redcliff Days on June 20. The Grade 2 students raised some money by selling finger knitted necklaces to their school mates.
Tina Wideen, community outreach associate and disaster management coordinator in Medicine Hat and area Red Cross, accepted the donation on behalf of the organization’s Nepal disaster relief fund. She was touched the kids would put so much time and effort in to help the people of Nepal who are suffering today.
“I think it’s wonderful,” said Wideen. “It’s still a lot of money and it still helps. But it’s not just about the dollar amount; it’s about the lessons learned. It’s reassuring. And it’s really nice to see that there is still that spirit of giving and kindness out there.”