By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Coins cascaded into the five-gallon water jug like pennies from heaven.
So overwhelming was Sister Lakes Elementary School students' response to tsunami relief efforts that after a week the 240 students and their families had collected $1,331.23 - $1,156.23 in change.
It took Principal David Strlekar seven trips to haul the heavy donations to Standard Federal Bank for 3 1/2 hours of coin-counting by machine.
Angel Leiting came closest with her guess that the coin bottle contained $1,200. "She was only $43 off," Strlekar said. "At first I hoped we could get half of it full. It was phenomenal. The majority was pennies, nickels and dimes. Kids' parents sent notes saying that this was their piggy bank money for the whole year. One kid brought more than $20 in change. It was just real nice.
Last Friday, to conclude their fundraising feat with "Team Effort Day," students wore jerseys for their favorite athletic team, whether it was the University of Michigan Wolverines, the Michigan State Spartans, the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish or their own youth soccer squad.
Franklin said larger schools have raised more money, but the better than $5.50 average raised per student impressed her.
As the Kalamazoo-based marketing and communications director, Franklin serves Cass, Allegan, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties.
Franklin is no stranger to Cass County. Not only did she graduate from Cassopolis High School in 1975, but she worked during high school at Pierson's Fruit Market near Sister Lakes School.
As of Jan. 27, almost $240 million had been donated to the American Red Cross tsunami relief program. About $215,000 of that came through the Greater Kalamazoo Area Chapter.
The Red Cross tsunami relief plan centers around five key areas: food and safe water, health care and disease prevention, immediate family supplies, mental health counseling and disaster preparedness and prevention measures.
Items in a Red Cross family kit, which will be provided to more than a million individuals, allow a family of six to set up a temporary household.
A kit typically contains plastic sheeting for shelter, sleeping mats and blankets, mosquito netting, 20-liter portable water containers, kitchen sets and a lantern.
A Red Cross hygiene kit includes soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet tissue, razors, laundry powder and infant hygiene items for families with babies.
A single kit supplies a family of six for one month.