By Devon Cormier
Staff Writer

TSUNAMI SHOVELERS – A handful of Bedford children spent their snow day clearing snow to raise money for tsunami victims in South Asia. They decided that shoveling driveways could raise money for tsunami victims and help out the neighbors. Diligently shoveling from front to back are Kevin Johnson, Brian Girardo, Brian Johnson and Brett Veilleux. (Devon Cormier Photo)

After a tsunami decimated Southeast Asia, small-scale, child-run fundraisers are popping up in schools and around towns everywhere. The money-raising events are making a big difference to tsunami victims and local students alike.

Students throughout New Hampshire make it evident that Southeast Asia isn’t far from their hearts. The thousands of miles can easily be traversed by the kindness and giving nature of our children.

In Dunbarton, the recently formed student council is planning a night of fun for tsunami fundraising. The fifth-graders decided that a student-geared night of fun would be the most profitable way to collect donations. Nothing is set in stone yet, but 10-year-old Cody Philippon said the student council is considering a night of rollerskating and candy.

“We want to try to do a roller-skating party for tsunami victims because kids like to do that. So it’s a good time to raise money,” said Philippon. “It’s sad what happened to all those people and a lot of them are scrambling just to get food.”

When asked how it made him feel to help victims so far from Dunbarton, Philippon said the distance just didn’t matter.

“We want to help everybody,” said Philippon. “We would like if everybody could live kind of like us.”

Children from communities all over New Hampshire are pooling their pennies to aid victims on the other side of the world. Many children even initiated fundraisers themselves.

In Bedford, close to a dozen elementary-aged boys used the snow day on Thursday, Jan. 6, to make money shoveling instead of playing outdoors. All the children said it was more than fun because all the money they made will be sent to a charity aiding tsunami victims.

Nine kids spent the day shoveling 12 driveways. The children raised $300, and one father’s company matched the money raised, upping the donations to $600.

“We decided to shovel driveways to help the people who don‚t have homes,” said 10-year-old Kyle Jones. “People don’t have any homes and have to live in tents at night and some lost their parents.”

Brian Johnson, also 10, said his mother made the shoveling suggestion when he got up in the morning. He thought it was a great idea and called up his closest friends. Johnson said it was fun to help out and the snowball fights in between shoveling were almost as fun as raising money for tsunami victims.

The oldest boy, 11-year-old Brian Girardo, said he was amazed at how much money the boys raised.

“It was really fun and I’m feeling good about how much people have helped the victims of the tsunami,” Girardo said. “I think it’s a real nice thing to do for all the people.”

While the boys raised money on their day off, the students at Bedford’s Peter Woodbury School have been raising money in school. The Community Action Team or CAT, a group of about 120 fifth-graders, just started the Coins for Compassion program.

Eleven-year-old Emily Reed brought in the contents of her piggy bank, and other students are doing the same. A giant jar awaits the coins and loose dollars and change that students and teachers can spare. All the money raised will go to aid tsunami victims.

“I brought in my piggy bank, because if we had a tsunami, we would want people to help us,” Reed said.

Nicole Parent, 10, said she worries because a lot of people have already died and the rate will only rise when disease and blight hit the affected countries. Other children in CAT thought that if they raised enough money, people may be able to rebuild their homes and get enough food and water.

The magnitude of the destruction is no match for the students of these tiny towns so far from Asia. The other side of the world might as well be next door to the compassionate kids as far as their charity is concerned.

To make a donation, contact your local church or area school. Donations can also be made to your local Red Cross or a charity of your choice.