SHERBURNE – The idea began with a bake sale initiated by Sherburne-Earlville Elementary School fourth-grader Madeleine Mood and later turned into a school-wide read-a-thon that, when combined, raised more than $2,700 for the earthquake victims of Haiti.
Mood’s proud grandmother said the 10-year old was concerned after watching some of the Haiti earthquake crisis coverage on television. “Here’s a 10-year-old who could think outside herself,” said Mona Sherry of Sherburne.
On Feb. 3, all of the fourth graders in Austin Mullen’s classroom sold home-made treats while their fellow students read continuously through the day. Students collected sponsorship pledges from the district’s community for the read-a-thon. Every classroom ultimately participated in the charitable activity by creating a portion of the Haitian flag.
The students recently displayed their flag in the school’s gym. The funds will be donated to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.
“It was a wonderful experience for all involved,” said Mullen. “The children worked cooperatively, measured, baked, counted profits, created a commercial for the elementary children and advertised their bake sale.”
Mullen’s fourth grade bake sale participants were: Laura Alishauskas, Hope Beckwith, Tyler Bigford, Kyle Cole, Michael Doeberl, Mikiela Geaslen, Georgina Godfrey, Thaddeus Karaman, Sophia Khoury, Jesse McDaniel, Alyssa Miles, Madeleine Mood, Kasten Pinney, Jonah Robertson, Kayleb Straight, Sylas Swingle, Eva Westbrook, Sage Westcott, Hunter Zbydniewski.