By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
A student in Mrs. Sines room at the David J. Lyon Elementary School in Washburn, Aaron Skinner may only be 7 years old but he is certainly aware of what’s going on in the world. Recently he told his mother that he thought he would start a lemonade stand so he could raise money to send to Japan, because, “buildings and houses cost a lot of money and in Japan there was an earthquake and tsunami.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County branch manager of the American Red Cross, Pine Tree Chapter, accepts Aaron Skinner’s donation of $300 which was raised to help Japan’s earthquake victims.
After discussing his philanthropic idea with his mother Christine, she suggested that because it was still quite some time before summer, instead of a lemonade stand perhaps he should try and think of another way to raise money in a more timely fashion. Again, after talking things over with his Mom, he came up with the idea of a penny drive and together Aaron and his Mom got things rolling.
“Mom and I told my principal, Mr. Bragg (Rick) what I wanted to do and he said it was OK. Then Mom sent a note to everyone at my school, telling them what was going on,” said Aaron, “and every day everyone, kids, teachers — just everyone — brought in money.”
“Mr. Bragg has a parking meter bank in his office, and every morning he let me bring the bank out into the hallway with a sign that said, “Help Japan,” (created by Aaron) and the kids would put their money in it, then every afternoon after school, I emptied it and took it home. Mom and I rolled a lot of pennies, dimes and quarters — and we also had some dollar bills too,” said Aaron. “My gosh — man — we were pooped after rolling all that change.”
Aaron’s Japan penny drive was held for seven days, ending on Friday, April 15, prior to school vacation. As a result of this sincere gesture by the 7-year-old and the support from his family and everybody at his school, Aaron raised $270, “and my Grampy and Grammie (John and Liza) Skinner gave $30 to make it $300,” he said.
As the coins were counted and rolled, Aaron and his Mom would fill a box and take it to the bank. “We went to both the County Federal Credit in Presque Isle and in Caribou. The staff there were very eager to help Aaron,” said Christine Skinner. “When they heard what all the coins were for they said they didn’t mind counting them at all.”
After completing the penny drive and the coins exchanged for three crisp one-hundred dollar bills, the next step was to get it to Japan. On Friday, April 22, Aaron, accompanied by his Mom and Dad (Stacey) and older brother Taylor, traveled from Washburn to meet with Joyce Knorr, director of the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross in Caribou, who they previously contacted and presented her with the funds.
“It is inspiring to see a young person, like Aaron, be in tune to the devastation that happened in Japan and want to do something to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Knoor. “We celebrate Aaron’s act of kindness and care — young people, given the chance, can change one person’s life forever. Nothing is impossible if one tries hard enough.”
“I hope other young people will be challenged by Aaron’s enthusiasm and become young ambassadors for the American Red Cross in our own community. His efforts demonstrate the power of one person making a difference,” added Knorr.
The Skinner family offer their sincere thanks to the students, staff and administrators at the David J. Lyon Elementary School for being such a big part of this event.
“Every little bit helps,” reminded Aaron, a very personable young man.
