Contributed by Kate Matson, Fairmount fifth grade teacher and Student Council co-sponsor
In conjunction with our One School, One Book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, the Fairmount Student Council partnered with an organization in Chicago called Lydia Home. The main character, Edward Tulane, experiences many hardships on his journey throughout the book. The Student Council chose to support Lydia Home, an organization for children ages 6-17 who have experienced trauma in their lives. This organization depends on donations in order to provide for the needs of the children.
Through this fundraiser, Fairmount students and staff participated by bringing in items, such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, socks, hair accessories and many other items for the children at Lydia Home. Each classroom had a suitcase in which items were collected to “go on the journey” with Edward and to support these children. Some classrooms had their own spirit days where students brought in one item or $1 in order to participate. This fundraiser went with the February and March Fairmount Focus – “Be Big-Hearted.”
The Fairmount School community was extremely generous, and the donations totaled $800.50 and 1,286 items! All monetary donations went toward gift cards for the children’s birthdays, holidays, meals and other necessary expenses. When the items were dropped off at Lydia Home, the volunteers there expressed much gratitude to the Fairmount School community.
The Fairmount Student Council would like to thank the Fairmount community for showing their support, generosity and big-heartedness with this project. Each donation will make a huge difference in the lives of the children at Lydia Home.