Nash-Rocky Mount ECHS students take initiative for charity
March 6, 2009 - Teacher Rachel Lindsey wanted to motivate her students at Nash-Rocky Mount Early College High School by having them read inspirational stories aloud in their AVID class, where students are challenged by high expectations and nurtured with support.
Lindsey got more than she bargained for.
After reading the story of a young girl who was inspired to help foster children by collecting duffel bags for them to carry their belongings -- instead of trash bags -- Lindsey's students got inspired, too, and put their learning into action with a project-based lesson of their own making.
Students in her class developed their own campaign, "Here to Help," found a local foster care program in need of help after its food budget was cut $25,000 and sold their school on the whole effort. They created a PowerPoint pitch to Principal Trent Mohrbutter, who signed off on the good-will effort, then created flyers, brochures, and collection envelopes. Three weeks later, they'd raised more than $1,700 for Free Will Baptist Children's Home in Middlesex and presented the gift last month.
"This project was a sheer joy," Lindsey said in an email to the school's counselor, "and it was one of the most amazing and exciting things I've done. Giving back to the community is a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in at an early age."
