Children raise $2,200 for Ukrainian refugees with coin drive

SNOHOMISH — An acorn of compassion led students to act on the ongoing Ukraine refugee crisis.
Last week, a fourth-grade class at Emerson Elementary delivered $2,200 to the Salvation Army’s refugee relief efforts.
They raised it bit by bit through a coin drive.
Teacher Jeni Logan was floored.
The nine- and 10-year-olds wrote speeches and took to the intercom during morning announcements to remind fellow students.
The drive lasted 2 1/2 weeks.
The kids went to classrooms with shoeboxes to collect change from neighboring classrooms.
“This is the kind of experience kids remember,” Logan said. “And I could see these little people’s passion for the cause.”
Students from Visala Holhbein’s class helped collect, Logan said.
The coin drive was sparked during a class on persuasive writing where the students’ attention turned to the ongoing Ukraine crisis and then turned to their teacher asking how to help.
The money helps provide tents, blankets, diapers and hotel stays for some of the more than 4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began Feb. 24. The war has displaced another 7 million still inside Ukraine.
“The Salvation Army has boots on the ground in all the neighboring countries,” said Lisa Borders, the Salvation Army Northwest Division’s corporate engagement director. In some places, it has shelters.
The Salvation Army uses 100% of donations to its disaster services purposes and takes no administrative fee off of these donations, Borders said.