Farmar Kids Harvest Donations for Japan

The leadership council decided it needed to do something to help the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan.

"They wanted to do something to raise money for Japan and get it to them quickly," said Wendy Smith, principal at Mary Farmar.

With a little guidance from teacher advisers third-grade teachers Brian Douglas and Jane Hara, the 24 third, fourth and fifth graders decided to give the money they raised to the Red Cross and, because they had to move fast, they created the Miracle Minute.

"Everyone was talking about Japan; we started talking about their needs," said Hara. "The kids actually wanted to help and raise money. So we started organizing from there. We just advised but they did a great job."

Each morning for a week, the Miracle Minute was announced by Smith and student leaders walked through their classrooms carrying individually decorated boxes into which students placed their donations. 

The amount raised won't be known for another day but Smith, Hara and Douglas are confident that $1,500 to $2,000 was raised during the five minutes of fund-raising coordinated by the student leadership council.

Making the effort more special was the announcement bythat he is extending his Japan fund-raising effort. Money raised by the Mary Farmar students will be matched by the owner of .