Blennerhassett Elementary donates to hurricane relief efforts
Blennerhassett Elementary students Payton Whiting, Everlee Larkins, Lucy Fry, Haven Pickens and Maggie Smith pose for a picture in their pajamas. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
Blennerhassett Elementary students Reed Province and Waylon Sams wear their pajamas during STEAM class. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
Blennerhassett Elementary students Jonah Randolph, Hank Holtz, Jansen Swiger, Maverick Shank and Decker Holtz pose for a picture in their pajamas. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
Blennerhassett Elementary students Hannah Davis, Kayana Litton and Leila Curry pose for a picture in their pajamas. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
Blennerhassett Elementary students Payton Whiting, Everlee Larkins, Lucy Fry, Haven Pickens and Maggie Smith pose for a picture in their pajamas. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
Blennerhassett Elementary students Reed Province and Waylon Sams wear their pajamas during STEAM class. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
Blennerhassett Elementary students Jonah Randolph, Hank Holtz, Jansen Swiger, Maverick Shank and Decker Holtz pose for a picture in their pajamas. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
Blennerhassett Elementary students Hannah Davis, Kayana Litton and Leila Curry pose for a picture in their pajamas. Students could pay $1 to wear pajamas to school with all the proceeds going to Mountain Mule Packers and Hurricane Helene relief. The school raised a total of $1,664.50. (Photo Provided)
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PARKERSBURG -- Blennerhassett Elementary students held a Pajama Day Service Project where students could wear pajamas to school if they donated $1 to support the Mountain Mule Packers.
The project was organized by third-grade teacher Stephanie Halstead and Principal Kristin Garretson said she was pleased with the $1,664.50 raised.
Mountain Mule Packers is a group based in North Carolina specializing in extreme terrain pack animal supply trains. The mules have delivered insulin, ice to keep medicines cold, food and other supplies like tarps, batteries and lights.
Students colored pictures and wrote notes of encouragement to be delivered with the monetary donations.
"We are wearing pajamas today to raise money for the people who were in the flooding." Daniel Hartshorn, a student, said. "We are donating to a charity for all the things they lost in the hurricane. They are using mules because the roads got ripped apart. We raised over $1,000."
Teacher Vicki Stewart said it is the responsibility of adults to broaden student's outlook. She said children need to be taught that everyone is connected, and that actions can have a positive impact on the lives of others.
"Service projects teach children that actions matter, and we can each do a small part," Stewart said. "Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented rainfall and torrential flooding. People in western North Carolina were stranded for days without food, water, cell power, electricity and passable roads."
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com