LAMS students reaching out to help their community and Haiti with their donations

Students at the Lehighton Area Middle School Student Council are working hard to help others.

The LAMS Student Council is presently raising funds for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti by hosting a basket raffle during games at their school. There are presently 45 large baskets available. The funds raised through this event will be donated to the American Red Cross efforts to help Haitian survivors.

Schuyler Cordova, council president, said that she is learned about the earthquake through Channel 1, a news program that is broadcast in the school each morning.

"Each of the classrooms made a basket and we received a lot of extra items from the students and teacher," she said.

Maris Stern, council vice president, said the students wanted to help and she said gathering the items from the classrooms was a fun way for the students to get involved.

Seth Broadt, activity director for the student council, said that he spent a lot of time setting up the display of baskets.

John Lopata, is the LAMS Student Council adviser.

Lopata said that the basket raffle will be available during the Middle School basketball game at 4 p.m. Thursday and during the Freshman Basketball game at 6 p.m., also on Thursday. The baskets will also be in the foyer for the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Lopata said that through the Humanitarian Club, students at the Lehighton Area Middle School are also presently involved in collecting food for the Lehighton Food Pantry and are raising funds for Dream Come True, Blue Ridge Chapter through a Zimmerman's Iced Tea promotion. He noted that last month the students collected baby items for Care Net of Carbon County.

"The students are doing a lot for the community," said Lopata. "I think they need to be recognized for all their hard work."