Lynn students step up for Japan earthquake victims

LYNN – Students at Cobbet Elementary School have spent the past few weeks raising money for Japan in wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the country last month.The students took on not one, but two different projects to aid in Japan?s recovery since mid-March.Cobbet Principal Brian Jay said the school has a very generous community with many students who are always looking for ways to give back.?They feel really good about raising the money and what they can do to help,” Jay explained. “We were one of the first schools to come up with a fundraising effort, so it sends a nice message.”The first project – led by teacher Mary Richard – was a blanket drive. Richard said her son Mark is in the U.S. Air Force and his brother-in-law is in the U.S. Navy, stationed on the carrier USS George Washington, which is based in Japan.?The military sent out an SOS for blankets because there?s a real need for the survivors,” Richard explained.Students responded to the call for help by collecting at least 50 new and gently used blankets that will be sent and distributed to the Japanese victims who have lost nearly everything.The second project was a penny drive run by the Cobbet Student Council with help from fifth-grade teachers Tim Burt and Peter Viselli. In just two weeks, the students raised more than $600 that will most likely be sent to the Red Cross for relief efforts.?There?s approximately 670 students in the school, so that averages a dollar a student,” Fay said. “It goes to show you if everyone brings a dollar in change it really adds up.”The Student Council is a new addition to the school and Burt and Viselli said it?s been a huge success so far with more than 30 participating students. They hope the relief projects will set a precedent for what other students can accomplish by joining the Student Council. Last year, students raised money for Haiti that went toward purchasing water filters.Fifth-graders Jessica Herenandez and Denelis Acosta are both Student Council members and said they have learned a lot about the Japanese disaster in class.?It?s the most recent tragedy and one of the most destructive natural disasters ever,” Acosta explained. “It made me feel like we all needed to help in some way.”?It didn?t happen to us, but it?s terrible,” Herenandez added. “With our help, hopefully everything will get restored and they can start to rebuild.”