LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A local middle school raised thousands of dollars for California wildfire victims that will help our neighbors to the west.
Hyde Park Middle School English teacher, Natalie Fragiadakis came up with the idea to help after seeing those devasting images on the news of the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Fragiadakis tells FOX5 she was moved to donate, but even more moved by her students who pitched in, since it’s not always easy to give.
“We have a lot of families here who, they’re just trying to get by you know? They’re just doing what they can to get by, so for them to donate anything that they could was so moving,” Fragiadakis said.
The English teacher hoped to raise $1,000. Just saying the total amount raised out loud for the wildfire victims is something that brings her to tears.
“We raised $9138.84, which for this community for these children that is an astronomical amount of money,” Fragiadakis said.
Adding to that total, middle schooler, Trystan Espino. She recently won a $100 scholarship for her good grades, snagging the Kinross Nevada Gold Star Award. Espino tells FOX5 she was moved to donate because of her favorite teacher.
“A lot of my friends were saying if more people were like Mrs. Fragiadakis, the world would be a better place, and these people need it more than I do,” Espino said.
Assistant principal of the west valley school, Adam Taylor says it’s not like teachers forced the students to donate during lunch period as they asked students for change.
“Those that gave, she just thanked them and those that didn’t, she said I appreciate you stopping by anyways. So, there was never any animosity towards the kids,” Taylor said.
Fragiadakis says the school cut a check to the California Fire Fund.
She says school leaders were careful in picking a charity that stays in California. In this case, the money will go to the first responders, and people who lost their homes.
The teacher says her students always understand the assignment, and we could all learn a thing or two from them.
“I just want people to understand that this generation of kids, they’re incredible humans, and it’s important to show up for people, and it’s important to be kind because it costs us nothing to be kind and we need way more of that,” Fragiadakis said.
FOX5 and the Salvation Army are teaming up to bring relief to victims of the southern California wildfires.
For more information on how to donate, click this link.
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