100th Day of Giving

100th Day of Giving

Honolulu Advertiser

02.10.10

Navy Hale Keiki School (NHKS) teamed with Tripler Army Medical Center Fisher House collecting donations in celebration of the 100th day of school in annual tradition heralding the school as one of the largest annual donors of goods to the charity.

NHKS students collected over 1,200 items donated to the Fisher House during a special ceremony on campus, Wednesday, February 10, 2010. The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) President, Janet Youtt, and Chairman of the event, Jill Baird, asked each of the ten classrooms at NHKS to donate 100 specific items to celebrate the 100th day of school.

The classrooms focused collection to kitchen and bathroom goods: foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags, plastic forks/spoons, plastic storage containers, hot pads, rubber gloves, sponges, vaseline, hand soap, hand sanitizer, dental floss, air freshener, fabric softener sheets, lip balm, bath soap, dish soap, paper products, straws, and other items.

The www.fisherhouse.org website stated, the Fisher House Foundation began in 1990 to support retired and active service members of the United States Armed Forces. "A Fisher House is "a home away from home" for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers." By law, there is no charge for a family to stay at the Fisher House. As a result, each Fisher House relies on donations in order to continue to provide services.

This year, 2010, marked the third annual donation of 1,000 or more goods to the Fisher House from NHKS students. The collections are a joint effort of the NHKS PTO and the individual classrooms. Each classroom was given a house with 100 bricks and a roof. With each item brought in, the children added a brick to their house. With the 100 item goal reached, the classroom "raised the roof" on the house and celebrated keeping the Fisher House strong. Many of the classrooms used the fundraising as a counting/graphing exercise for the children.

"Student community service involvement at Navy Hale Keiki School helps to foster students who are empathetic to the world in which they live. Although our students are young, they are given opportunities to have a direct impact to others through efforts such as Operation Candy Drop, Fisher House supply collection, Meals on Wheels cards and donations, and canned food drives. These opportunities become part of the classroom environment and students learn that their contributions can make a powerful difference in the world and community," said Shari Gulledge, NHKS Director since 2007.