Montezuma- Cortez High School,
Cortez, Colorado - January, 2009
Student, Naomi Ritthaler, passes the "Money Jar" and tells her story...

When I heard about Schools for Salone, I was immediately interested and knew I wanted to help.  I got on the web sight and looked at the pictures of the new schools and the children that went there, and how happy they were to have new schools and supplies.  I wanted to be a part of that.  I thought that if I brought Schools for Salone to my high school, my fellow classmates would feel the same.

I got together with my History teacher, Betty Love, and we started what we called the "Money Jar."  It was an old five gallon glass water jug.  At least three days a week, I would take the money jar to every classroom during a class called Career Pathways, which is basically like a home room.  After about the first month, I had to push the money jar on a cart because all the change donated was getting too heavy to carry.  It was amazing seeing how much the students wanted to help and how interested they were in Sierra Leone and the students living there.  I was asked tons of questions about the people there and the schools, many wanted to visit the web sight, and I showed a slide show to many classes about Schools for Salone.

On the final day that I was collecting donations, the Cooking class at my school asked me to come to their room.  They sell breakfast burritos and smoothies in the morning as a fund raiser, and with the money they earned, they wanted to donate $185 dollars to School for Salone.  When they handed me the money, it was absolutely amazing!  They all had smiles on their faces and were so excited to give the money to me.  It was such a good surprise and contribution.  

Over all, my school donated $648.22, which will be used to buy school supplies for students in Sierra Leone. It was an amazing experience for me and for my school, we are very proud to have helped other students that are not as blessed with a good school system and opportunities.  Schools for Salone is an amazing program, and it would be awesome for schools all over the United States to get involved.  Nothing feels better than helping others.

If you would like to sponsor a school event,
Contact Cindy Nofziger
Cindy@SchoolsForSalone.org

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