As part of homecoming Spirit Week festivities, students at Hendersonville Middle School annually sell “spirit links” for $1 each, and donate the raised funds to a nonprofit of their choice.
This year, Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Maria made a strong case for the American Red Cross.
News of the hurricanes pummeling the United States and the Caribbean islands inspired the middle school homerooms to kick their competition into high gear, racing to be the class with the most red paper spirit links.
“It was a homeroom vs. homeroom competition,” said Kelly Deese, teacher and Student Council Sponsor.
She said three years ago, when Hendersonville Middle started the annual fundraising competition, students raised about $400 for a nonprofit.
“This year, they really knocked it out of the park since we designated it for hurricane relief,” Deese said.
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, students presented a check for $900 to Robert Griffin, Margaret Erga, and Tracey Lilly of the American Red Cross, who explained how the designated funds would be used.
Griffin, Mass Care Logistics Specialist for North Carolina, said, “We have done more in the last 60 days in the U.S., Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico than we have in the last 5 years combined.”
He said American Red Cross’ disaster relief response is about 96% volunteer-based so, “We use the money to go straight to the victims.”
– By Molly McGowan Gorsuch
Public Information Officer
