DeRenne Middle School Students Raise Money for Atlanta Flood Victims

Flood victims aren’t just getting help from the Red Cross or the government.  Some of their smaller neighbors are stepping up to make a big difference.  With that, some local students are learning an important lesson while giving to strangers.

On Friday morning, Patrick Rossiter, interim principal at DeRenne Middle School counts money for “out of uniform day”

Rossiter says the students earned it for exceptional behavior the first 20 days of school.

They have to pay for a day of sporting their own style; students a dollar and teachers and staff two bucks.

“What we decided to do was reward them and reward a needy charity at the same time and there’s nothing more timely than helping the flood victims in north Georgia,” says Patrick Rossiter, interim principal at DeRenne Middle School.

The students are excited to be out of the daily duds.

“It’s good because you can show off what you have and you don’t have to wear what they say,” says 6th grader, Denirricka Wright.

“You can wear your favorite outfits and everything,” adds 6th grader, Charntae Freeman.

It may seem pretty cool for the students to be out of their uniforms today, but it’s also teaching them an important lesson…giving to their neighbors.

“I learned how you can help others be and you can donate stuff to people if they need and you could just be nice and kind,” says Denirricka.

Especially during these tough economic times when the need is already great.

“It just sort of focuses the need for education, the need for compassion the need for ah for helping people you know when they’re in need,” adds Rossiter.
 
“I think it’s the right thing for doing the dress down to give the money.  And cause it makes you feel good to yourself,” says Charntae.

In all they collected $680.66 for “out of uniform day.“

The school will give the money they collected to the Savannah Chapter of the American Red Cross.