RTCA Students Raise $4,000 for Ukraine Relief
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
Four Robert Toombs Christian Academy fifth graders spoke to the Vidalia Rotary Club about their fundraiser for Ukraine at the club’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 27.
“During its March meeting, the Rotary Club Board made a decision to donate as a club to Rotary International to help the Ukraine relief effort,” RTCA Headmaster Travis Absher. “The next day, when I got to school, my two fifth grade teachers called me and told me the fifth grade students wanted to do something [for Ukraine] and wanted my help to find somewhere to help take the money to that cause.” Absher told the group that he assured the students that the Rotary Club could help with their endeavor, as he called four student representatives of the class to address the Club.
“We are here today because we decided we wanted to do something for Ukraine,” fifth grader Sailor Kate Monroe said. “Addysen [Smith] actually told us that she wanted to start [this fundraising], and brought the box. She told us she wanted to give them things like soap, but we weren’t sure how it would get there, so we went another route and chose to raise money.”
Monroe said activities like dress down days and fundraising competitions between the elementary, middle, and high schools helped to gain a lot of funds. “We received a lot of generous donations,” she explained. “ Eva Jo (Collins) had an auction online to sell a bracelet and necklace that she made, which made a lot of money, too.”
Smith commented on her decision to start this project. “Our teachers were talking about what was going on with Ukraine. That same day, the teachers talked about a girl from a few years ago who used a Solo cup to raise money. They said the girl ended up raising around $3,000, so I thought it could work for this, too,” she remarked. “I brought in a box, and we wrapped it with wrapping paper.”
The boxes were housed at the school to collect donations, and the group raised a total of $4,039.15 for the cause. They presented the Rotary Club with the money to donate to Rotary International for the Ukraine relief effort.
“For those guys to take up that thought on their own and want to raise money – the future is bright,” Absher concluded.
JOB FAIR — Southeastern Technical College of Vidalia hosted a job fair on Tuesday, April 26, which gave the public the opportunity to meet and communicate with over 40 employers across several industries, including healthcare and criminal justice.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
