Schools

Mary Morrisson Elementary Students Collect Money For Homeless Families

Groton School Has Raised More than $700 Since November

Emelie Pope collected $25 from her grandmother, $10 from her godmother, then took the rest from her piggy bank.

Then she brought the total - $63 – to Mary Morrisson Elementary School in Groton and donated it to help homeless families.

“Everybody deserves a home, but not many people have enough money to buy a home,” said Emelie, 9.

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The school’s students have raised more than $700 since November for Mystic Area Shelter & Hospitality, Inc,, an organization that provides emergency shelter to homeless families with children. The group houses families temporarily, then helps them find permanent housing.

Principal Sue Morehouse said the school tries to involve students in a service project, and this fall chose an organization close to home.

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Last year, Mary Morrisson students raised more than $1,000 in pennies to send to Afghanistan through the program “Pennies for Peace.”  Mary Morrisson has 360 students, 95 percent of whom have a parent in the military, either at the submarine base, on a boat or overseas.

Morehouse said after the school improvement team decided on the charity, she explained it to students during morning announcements.

She told the children that if they wanted to be on a committee to help, they had to write a letter of interest.

Fifteen students wrote in. Vice Principal Monica Franzone said one child - she believes it was Emelie - offered to clean houses for families moving out of temporary housing so others could move in.

“She was very earnest,” Franzone said.

Students counted coins and dollar bills collected in the various classrooms on Tuesday. They plan to collect through the end of the month.

 “We wanted to raise money so we can help other people,” said Joyce Lewis, 9.  “So they can have money and get homes and not be poor.”

The parent of a fifth grader is depositing the donations at the Navy Federal Exchange Credit Union, where she has an account, Morehouse said. The various classes are also competing to see who can raise the most. The winning class gets a field trip to the bank, which last year offered refreshments and a tour for the children.

An art teachers is also making a giant cardboard check of the total students raise, so they can present it during morning announcements.

Said Principal Morehouse: “It really was from their own hearts.”


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