FORT BENNING, Ga. - When 8-year-old Anna Barnes saw a sign at Brookstone Elementary that read "Doughnuts for Haiti," it gave her an idea.
Now, thanks to her inspiration, "Pickles & Popcorn for Haiti" - White Elementary's own version of the fundraiser - has raised more than $500 for earthquake victims in Haiti.
"They need the money more than us," said the second-grader. "They need it for their beds, their food, their doctors ... (This) money will really help them."
Pickles & Popcorn is a fundraiser led by the school's Parent Teacher Organization, which sells pickles, bags of popcorn and candy every Friday for 25 cents each.
The PTO had already reached its Pickles & Popcorn fundraising goal for the year, so 100 percent of the proceeds from February's sales are going to the Haiti relief fund, said Donna Bottcher, PTO treasurer.
"We voted on it and everybody thought it was a great idea," she said. "We know how generous our children are. And our parents are very supportive."
That generosity and support garnered $542 in only three days - the school lost a Friday of fundraising because of the snow day Feb. 12. A student brought in some change Tuesday to round out the number, which now totals $550.
Teachers have been talking about Haiti in their classes, so students are familiar with the current situation, Bottcher said.
Anna said she was glad she could get the rest of the school involved, since their help makes a bigger difference for people in Haiti.
With the current crisis in Haiti, $500 may not seem like a lot, but it's more than just a dollar amount; it's a teaching point for every student who donates money, Bottcher said.
"(It's) an opportunity to educate our children about what is happening in other parts of the world," she said, "and that they can make a difference to those far beyond our school and local community."
White Elementary presented a check to the Fort Benning American Red Cross station Thursday.
That money is forwarded immediately to national Red Cross and then on to international Red Cross headquarters, where it will reach victims in Haiti, said Michele Walton, the local station coordinator.
"Every little bit helps, and I really wish everyone would realize that," Walton said. "Five hundred dollars turns into millions of dollars when you have people from all over the world giving to the cause."
In the case of large-scale disasters like in Haiti, all Red Cross donations automatically go toward that effort, Walton said, but the mandate regarding Haiti is expected to be lifted soon, and local stations can begin fundraising for other efforts.
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