While students

in Fayette tried to understand why the attacks on America happened, they

had an overwhelming desire to reach out and offer their help to the victims

and their families.

Immediately

students at all schools within the Fayette County School System sprang

into action and started collecting money for the American Red Cross Disaster

Relief Fund and the Firefighters Fund. Additionally, students around the

county sponsored donation drives for socks, baby wipes and hard candy

to give to the New York City firefighters who were working around the

clock sifting through the rubble of the Twin Towers.

Thanks to the

efforts of Fayette's students over $33,000 was raised for the American

Red Cross' relief effort in the weeks following the attacks. Many students

willingly gave up their ice cream money and allowances or did chores around

their homes to earn money to give to the fund.

"I am

just so proud of the students in Fayette County. They really poured their

hearts out to help people that they probably will never meet," said

Bonita Washington of the Red Cross South Metro Service Center. "Every

time I attended a donation ceremony I couldn't help but to cry. The kids

would always be looking at me with big eyes and you could tell they wanted

to know if there was anything else they could do," she added.

Faculty and

staff also sponsored fund-raisers to collect money for the victims and

their families. Employees at the Fayette County Board of Education and

LaFayette Educational Center donated $395 during a Denim Days fund-raiser.

Teachers and school staff throughout the county's schools hosted similar

events to raise money.

The school

system's CARE teams spent October promoting Pennies for Patriots and two

paid jeans days for teachers and school office staff. In addition to the

more than $33,000 collected for the American Red Cross, the two fund-raisers

sponsored by CARE generated $7,500, bringing the grand total to over $40,000.

"Our CARE

program was a natural venue for this fund-raiser because the program is

devoted to helping students cope with social, behavioral and emotional

issues. I am so proud of all of our students and faculty who participated

and showed their support for the many people whose lives were directly

altered due to the attacks," said CARE coordinator Karen Spangler.

"I always

tell the children that when they tell their kids and grandkids about what

happened on Sept. 11, they can say that they directly helped in healing

the country through their donations," added Washington.

Although most

school fund-raisers have come to an end, students throughout the system

continue to work on individual projects to show their patriotism and support.