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The Roseburg High School Step Up class and the RHS Key Club are collecting shoes, socks and jackets for children in Afghanistan. They are also accepting money to send the packages. Shipping costs $8.10 per package. The drive will last through Nov. 27.
Donations are tax-deductible, and checks can be made out to the Key Club or RHS Step Up.
Students will pick up donations, or they can be dropped off after school to Ted Wilton’s classroom at Roseburg High School, 400 W. Harvard Ave.
Information: Ted Wilton, 440-4111 or 430-7311.
Donations are tax-deductible, and checks can be made out to the Key Club or RHS Step Up.
Students will pick up donations, or they can be dropped off after school to Ted Wilton’s classroom at Roseburg High School, 400 W. Harvard Ave.
Information: Ted Wilton, 440-4111 or 430-7311.
Last Monday during class, Roseburg High School teacher Ted Wilton got a call from a former student. Marcus, who wants to be known only by his first name, was sitting on a Humvee behind his .50-caliber gun in Bagram, Afghanistan.
“Marcus told me on the phone that most of the kids of Afghanistan have no shoes or coats, and they are entering winter over there,” said Wilton, who didn’t reveal the student’s last name at his request. “He was saying it’s just tearing him up watching these children walk around with Ziploc baggies on their feet in the middle of winter.”
Wilton said the Roseburg area could help. He told the students in his Step Up class and the RHS Key Club about the phone call.
The students decided to collect shoes, socks and jackets for Afghan children, along with donations of $8.10 to send the packages.
The students have e-mailed elementary schools asking for used shoes and jackets in children’s sizes, and this week they’ll be canvassing businesses asking for help.
They’re hoping to finish the collection by Nov. 27.
“It just really touched my heart that kids are over there freezing and we didn’t really know about it,” Key Club President Sarah Schultz said. “When we heard about it, we just had to do something.”
The students had a meeting Monday night asking for four committed volunteers to head up committees. Ten students wanted to do the work.
“I just think it’s really cool,” Schultz said. “Kids do really want to help. Once we had that information, kids couldn’t walk away from it.”
Wilton said the project transcends politics.
“These are the innocent side effects of war,” he said. “No matter what your feelings are on the war, as the private sector we can, in a small way, truly win the hearts and minds of innocent children caught in the middle of a battle zone.”
Marcus was once a member of Wilton’s Step Up class.
“He was an at-risk student who has grown up and grown up quickly because of the military,” Wilton said. “He has grown as a humanitarian and as a soldier.”
And Marcus’ desire to help children is making other at-risk students want to contribute.
“It’s staggering,” Wilton said, “because you’ve got the at-risk kids, who are taking this upon themselves, and you’ve got the Key Club, who are college-bound kids, working together.”
• You can reach reporter Teresa Williams at 957-4230 or via e-mail at twilliams@newsreview.info.
“Marcus told me on the phone that most of the kids of Afghanistan have no shoes or coats, and they are entering winter over there,” said Wilton, who didn’t reveal the student’s last name at his request. “He was saying it’s just tearing him up watching these children walk around with Ziploc baggies on their feet in the middle of winter.”
Wilton said the Roseburg area could help. He told the students in his Step Up class and the RHS Key Club about the phone call.
The students decided to collect shoes, socks and jackets for Afghan children, along with donations of $8.10 to send the packages.
The students have e-mailed elementary schools asking for used shoes and jackets in children’s sizes, and this week they’ll be canvassing businesses asking for help.
They’re hoping to finish the collection by Nov. 27.
“It just really touched my heart that kids are over there freezing and we didn’t really know about it,” Key Club President Sarah Schultz said. “When we heard about it, we just had to do something.”
The students had a meeting Monday night asking for four committed volunteers to head up committees. Ten students wanted to do the work.
“I just think it’s really cool,” Schultz said. “Kids do really want to help. Once we had that information, kids couldn’t walk away from it.”
Wilton said the project transcends politics.
“These are the innocent side effects of war,” he said. “No matter what your feelings are on the war, as the private sector we can, in a small way, truly win the hearts and minds of innocent children caught in the middle of a battle zone.”
Marcus was once a member of Wilton’s Step Up class.
“He was an at-risk student who has grown up and grown up quickly because of the military,” Wilton said. “He has grown as a humanitarian and as a soldier.”
And Marcus’ desire to help children is making other at-risk students want to contribute.
“It’s staggering,” Wilton said, “because you’ve got the at-risk kids, who are taking this upon themselves, and you’ve got the Key Club, who are college-bound kids, working together.”
• You can reach reporter Teresa Williams at 957-4230 or via e-mail at twilliams@newsreview.info.
