Students aid tsunami relief

Students at A.E. Wright Middle School in Calabasas are working hard to come up with creative ways to assist South Asia tsunami victims.

Shortly after returning from the winter break, students formed a Tsunami Relief Alliance and have already held or established a series of projects and programs.

First, the group created collection boxes that depict both the tragedy and the rebuilding efforts to remind fellow students how much help is needed. The boxes were placed throughout the campus. Many students plan to donate the money they earn babysitting and dog-walking to the collection boxes.

An Alliance bake sale on Jan. 13 raised $600, a spokesperson said.

JAMES FARRALLY/Acorn Newspapers OTHER HELPERS-Brownies from Girl Scout Troop 250 sell baked goods at Yerba Buena Elementary School in Agoura Hills to raise money for the American Red Cross tsunami relief. Above, one scout shows off her bag of change.

Chain links made of laminated construction paper will soon be sold for 25 cents apiece. Students can write their names on the links and attach them to the "Chain of Love" that the Alliance hopes will soon stretch across the campus.

The alliance also is planning to sell automobile antennae balls as well as metal cuff bracelets similar to those worn during the Vietnam War and inscribed with A.E. Wright Tsunami Relief Alliance.

In addition, the Alliance is considering holding a raffle. Students are soliciting parents and friends for prizes that can be raffled "This relief effort is driven almost entirely by students who have realized that we live in a global community and must look out for each other," said A.E. Wright office manager Cathy Delaney. "They also know that with hard work, ingenuity and a lot of enthusiasm, they don’t necessarily need a checkbook to make a huge difference."

All money raised at the school will be sent to UNICEF.

—Sophia Fischer