Archive: Around Town

Last Fall Lansing third graders took it upon themselves to hold a bake sale and raise money and supplies to help Owego flood victims.  They raised $394 and collected school and cleaning supplies.  Friday morning they were surprised by members of the Lansing-Ithaca Rotary Club, who came to their classroom to present them with the club's Community Service Award.

"We give it to someone whose actions reflect the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self," club President AnnMarie Hautaniemi told the boys.  "You know, where you just do stuff because it's a good thing to do, not for any personal reward.  This year we are very pleased and proud to give our award to this class, who through your own initiative raised $394, cleaning, school and other supplies to help the Owego victims of the flooding in the Fall of 2011."

It came about last Fall during a class discussion about the flooding.  Third grader Morgan Somchanhmavong said he was saving his allowance to help the victims.  Other boys said they'd like to do that, too and soon the whole class was planning to go beyond that to raise money.  They decided to have a bake sale and a food and cleaning supplies drive.


The students in the all-male class are Vinny Alger, Zain Ali, Teddy Brenner, Jack Collins, Kobee Corbin-Watts, Samuel Debbie, Gavin Dowell, Jamie Emmick, Elliot Green, Miles Kimball, Liam McGreevey, Dylan Richards, Shane Sherwood, Morgan Somchanhmavong, Colton Stauffeneker, Max Wakshlag, Conner Watts, Alex Yoo.  Bryce says that everyone participated without exception.

The boys' teacher Pamela Bryce says that while the boys initiated and carried out the plan, it took a lot of cooperation from district administrators, the PTSO, and the Boosters Club, which allowed the boys to hold their bake sale at a football game.  The boys made posters to publicize the drive, baked, sold the baked goods, and and collected cleaning items.  Bryce then dropped off the boys' contributions at the Lansing United Methodist Church, one of the local collection places for flood relief.


"The Lansing-Ithaca Rotary Club believes that efforts like this should be rewarded because we want them to continue with 'Service Above Self' for the rest of their lives," Hautaniemi says.

The Rotarians brought the cake to seal the deal.  Students were surprised Rotarians had heard about what they had done, and pleased when they and their teacher were given awards, balloons and the cake.


Historically the club holds an awards dinner to honor Community Service Award recipients.  But this time they decided to surprise the boys in their classroom with their award and a cake.  It was the first time children have been recognized by the club, and the first time a large group has been awarded the honor.

"I'm very proud of them. It's a great group of kids," Bryce says.  "And the parental support for these kids is great.  There was 100% support.  Everybody sent something for the bake sale and everybody helped.  You have to admit: $394 in brownies... that is unbelievable."

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