Girl knows a thing or two about compassion
Saila Rogge proves youre never too young to understand when someone needs help and make a plan. During the course of about three weeks, the 8-year-old raised $107.44 for the Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund.
Her mother, Jennifer Rogge, explains that their family had been watching the news together after the hurricane hit. They also have relatives on the coast of North Carolina whose previous stories of dangerous hurricanes also had left an impression on Saila.
Ive never had stuff like that happen to me, but Ive been near forest fires and snowstorms, and I know what it feels like to be in danger, Saila says. I wanted to help and had seen other fund-raisers before.
Saila, a third-grader at Lakeside Elementary, arranged to talk to all the second- and third-grade classes at her school and put donation boxes in each of their classrooms.
She topped off her campaign during the schools Open House Night on Sept. 19 by setting up a desk and handmade sign that read, Help the Victims of Hurricane Katrina, so the parents could make donations. After she went to her own classrooms open house, she manned her desk in the hallway until 10 p.m., considerably beefing up her proceeds and effectively extending her typical 8 p.m. bedtime.
Her own third-grade class with Mrs. Ford raised the most money, Saila says, followed closely by Mrs. Duffys second-grade class.
The money was delivered to the Red Cross in the form of a check with a note from Saila written on hot-pink stationery explaining how shed drummed up the donation.
She and her dad, Tim, had made a copy of the check, and turned it into a thank-you flier to everyone at the school who contributed and showing how much money theyd raised, and posted it in the classrooms.
The students felt bad for the people in New Orleans, Rogge says. They helped a lot.
Rogge gives credit to her mom, Jennifer, for providing all the donation containers and for her help writing the letter to the Red Cross.
As far as Saila successfully launching her own fund-raising campaign, her family admires her gumption and take-charge attitude to helping the Katrina victims. Shes always been an independent thinker, affirms her mother. And always has plenty of her own ideas.
I am very proud of myself and so are all of my family and friends, Saila wrote.
And so is the Red Cross, who gave Rogge a certificate of appreciation for her effort.
The Flatheads trick-or-treaters have retired their treat bags for another year, but one local resident was left with a long-lasting impression. Westside Kalispell resident Vince Johnson wrote, Wow! Hats off to some super polite trick-or-treaters. It was so fun to hand out the treats and hear a loud, resounding chorus of thank yous!
Johnson tips his hat to all the parents who are encouraging such exemplary manners in their kids.
All you young ghosts and goblins made this ogre feel so good about the generation to come, he added. A big thank-you to you all; it made my night.