Collection for Haiti

Camden Early Childhood Center has collected over $1,000 to help with relief efforts in Haiti. The school is helping the children of a particular orphanage, devastated by the earthquake. Pictured with some of the money collected are, l-r, Sarah Howard, Rebecca Daugherty, and Micah Lawless. All the students at CECC are in kindergarten and pre-K. Comet photo by Jennifer Archibald The last two weeks of January the Camden Early Childhood Center collected money for children in Haiti. The collection was in conjunction with the school’s celebration of the 100th Day of School.

For two weeks, the children brought in Pennies for Haiti. The collection was so successful that it turned into Hundreds for Haiti. At final count, the total surpassed $1,000.

The school is donating to the children of a particular orphanage, Maison des Enfants de Dieu. The connection was made through teacher Emily Daugherty, who has an adoptive child from China. Prior to the earthquake, the Chinese adoption agency, Chinese Children Adoption International, also was handling adoptions from Haiti, in cooperation with the above-named orphanage. According to the agency, no children from that orphanage were physically injured in the earthquake, but they are in need of emergency shelter, food, water, and medicine.

Because of its connection, the adoption agency is organizing relief efforts there. A private plane has been making deliveries of needed supplies. The money from CECC will go toward that effort.

Teacher Carrie Geheb said the collection was not a usual way to celebrate the 100th Day of School. Each day of the collection, students were encouraged to bring in 100 pennies (a dollar) or any amount of their choosing. The children’s pennies were augmented by dollars and checks from teachers, staff, parents, grandparents, and others wanting to help.

The CECC staff had sent a letter home to parents with the following explanation of the project: “This act of kindness will teach the students about a current event as well as teach about helping others. Let’s see how much money we can raise!”

Teachers said the amount raised was far more than their expectations.