Popcorn Project Sherri Cripe's kindergarten class at Camden Early Childhood Center sold bags of popcorn to their fellow kindergarten students last Friday. The proceeds will go to the Canal Association to help rebuild its burned playground boat. Comet photo by Jennifer Archibald Even little kids can contribute to community projects.

Kindergartners in Sherri Cripe's class at Camden Early Childhood Center heard about the arson fire that destroyed half of the playground canal boat in Delphi, and they wanted to help.

The students had been talking about letter writing in their class, so they wrote a letter to the canal volunteers, telling them how sorry they were that the boat was burned.

Mrs. Cripe said the students talked about some of the things the canal volunteers would need to rebuild the boat. The children decided they could help out by raising money. They came up with the idea of selling popcorn. To finish their project quickly, they concluded that they would sell bags of freshly made popcorn to the other kindergarten classes at the school.

They had to arrive at a price for their popcorn, and Mrs. Cripe said the first price suggested was $100 a bag. After some discussion, they settled on a more affordable price of 50 cents a bag.

Their project was carried out toward the end of the day last Friday. Head custodian Robert Smith helped out by popping the corn. Mrs. Cripe's class wore special hats, which they made themselves, designating them as the sellers and money-takers.

Mrs. Cripe said the project raised $311.69, which will be given to the Canal Association.

She said the total includes extra donations given by the children and their families.

It also includes $67.19 that student Karissa Tomson raised over the weekend by asking members of her church to donate to the project.

Mrs. Cripe said one of the most sacrificial donations came from one of her students, Cynthia Rossi.

"She had been saving all summer for an American Girl doll," Mrs. Cripe said. "And she gave all of it for rebuilding the boat."

"I am very proud of what these five and six-year-olds have accomplished," Mrs. Cripe said. "They definitely are showing love to their community."