Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School fills piggy banks for children in need

When Jon Jelley, executive director for Boys Town New York, got a call in November from teachers at the Brooklyn Avenue School saying that they would like to organize a piggy bank fundraiser for the organization, he didn’t think the school would raise more than $1,000. The year before, students at Brooklyn Avenue School raised $600 for the American Heart Association.

By Feb. 10, however, the school had raised more than $3,200 for the nonprofit, which supports children and family members who have been abused or neglected in New York City.

“At most, I thought the students would raise $1,000, but everyone rallied and came together for the cause,” Jelley said in a statement.

Nearly 200 students filled plastic cartons with coins and brought them to school beginning on Jan. 18. That day, to get the students motivated, James Hill, the director of development for Boys Town New York told the students about the organization and asked them if they gave their family members presents over the holiday season. When hands shot up, Hill asked how it made them feel to see their family member open up their present. According to him, many of the students said that it felt great. “That’s what you get when you donate,” he responded.

Some of these students were able to find coins around the house, while others did extra chores around the house. Hill rewarded the students with a pizza party for their efforts on Feb. 17.

According to Karen Kane, an inclusion and special education teacher who is also a liaison to the school’s student council, this was the first year the students received piggy bank jars for the project.

Kane and Krista Kinirons, the other student council liaison and a fifth grade teacher at the school, contacted Jelley in November, after a parent informed them about the organization.

They were not expecting the students to raise as much money as they did.

“Oh my God, we were shocked,” said Kane. “We were ecstatic. In the past, the school typically raised $600 to $700, so we couldn’t believe how successful it was this year.”

The money will be used to buy reading materials for children and teenagers at the organization’s three youth shelters.

Scott Comis, principal of the Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, said he was proud of the students and their efforts.

“I am proud of the students for showing that they are kind, caring and generous,” he said.