“Students in GRADES 6 AT HILDA LAHTI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s memory by having a ‘DAY ON’ during the recent federal holiday and day off from school,” sixth-grade teacher DEBBIE TWOMBLY e-mailed to the Ear. “They wanted to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, so they found odd jobs to earn a bit of money.”

“Their neighbors in grades four and five joined in their efforts,” Twombly added, “and by the end of the week, had collected $290.41. They have sent their donations to Mercy Corps, a Portland-based relief organization.”

Pictured above, left, AUSTIN and REBEKAH CICHOSKI getting the students’ donations ready for mailing. Pictured, right, a portion of a drawing from AUSTIN OGIER’s letter.