Red Deer Lake School smelled like a movie theatre last week, but what was playing out was a big-hearted gesture by students caught up in the real-life drama playing out in Haiti.

Members of the school’s Reach Out Club (ROC) acted quickly when they heard about the disaster in Haiti.

Red Deer Lake teacher Jennifer Shaw with students from the school's Reach Out Club sold popcorn last week to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake.

The ROC club meets once or twice a month for lunch and does community projects and global outreach, including sponsoring a foster child from Rwanda. When the Haiti earthquake struck the club quickly mobilized, she said.s

Following several meetings a parent donated pounds and pounds of popcorn that was sold last Wednesday with all proceeds going to the relief effort.

Teacher Jennifer Shaw said the club’s goal is to foster compassion, but she was still amazed at the response by not only the club’s 100 members, but the entire school community.

“I have been so touched by how the kids responded to kids that they have never even met,” she said.

The school raised $2,605 in one morning. She said bags of popcorn sold for $2 and for as much as $75. She said students came in with their own money in hand.

“The kids wanted to spend their money on someone else rather than themselves and that is what I found so extraordinary,” Shaw said.

Parents also donated to the cause, she added.

“Its typical of our school that they are incredibly generous people,” Shaw said.

All the money was sent to World Vision, who is assisting in Haiti.

Another Grade 8 student is collecting shoes for Haiti and Shaw said thousands of shoes have been donated so far.

Although people have been cautioned against sending goods, rather than money, she said the boy did his research and found a company that is allowed to send shoes into the country.

She said the effort to bring help to those in need in Haiti will continue. Junior High students are now formulating a plan for a fundraiser that is expected to coincide with Valentine’s Day.

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