HHS students collect change for a good cause

    The old adage is a penny saved is a penny earned. Well, the Houlton Junior and Senior High Student Council members are learning that loose change in their pockets can also be used to change someone’s life.
    “Change For Change” is a new initiative taking place at Houlton High School.
    “Last month, Karen Bouchard, junior high Student Council advisor, approached me with an idea,” said co-student council advisor Tim Tweedie. “She said that her kids would like to do more charitable work within the school and community. They came up with this idea that if every kid donated 25 cents per week, we could use the money to put toward school/community projects. We really have a very charitable group of kids at the school.”
    Last year, Houlton Junior Senior High School won the Rotary Club’s annual “Service Above Self” award and once the students heard about the “Change For Change” idea, they were anxious to take on another charitable cause, said Tweedie.
Contributed photograph
ADDING HIS CHANGE – Cody Woods, left, adds his change to the bucket for  the “Change for Change” program, sponsored by the Houlton Junior Senior High Student Council.
    “Every Friday during the advisory period, Student Council members walk around with collection buckets, asking students for any spare change they wish to donate,” he said.
    The student’s collections are going to local charities or families who are struggling, health-wise or financially.
    “This is a really great project,” said Heather Fagnant, co-student council advisor. “It doesn’t take a ton of planning by the students and it isn’t soliciting. We simply ask for donations of spare change from those who can afford it.” 
    In the first three weeks, students were able to raise $415 for three causes.
    “We anticipate that donation totals will only grow,” said Tweedie. “In a perfect world there wouldn’t be any tragedies within the community, and we wouldn’t feel compelled to help. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world and the community has been hit pretty hard recently with illnesses and other misfortunes.  The kids feel that this is the least they can do.”
    The only drawback so far for the students is they wish they could do more.
    “We have been extremely pleased with the positive attitudes and monetary contributions elicited by our whole school community,” Bouchard added. “Student council members have even suggested that we take this a step further and invite community businesses and other schools in the area to follow suit and start a ‘Change for Change’ campaign with us.”
    To put it into perspective, if every Houlton Junior Senior High School student and staff member were to donate 25 cents every Friday, the total amount for the 2010-11 school year would be more than $4,000, estimates Tweedie.
    “That is a very significant amount of money that can be put to good use assisting members of the greater Houlton community in a time of need,” he said.
    Principal Marty Bouchard added, “The act of giving to those who have been hit with illness or devastation is very important. Whether it be small financial contributions or service, giving back to our community is a focus of our students and school. I couldn’t be prouder of our student body for stepping up and doing their part for a great cause.”