Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 20/98) - Geography didn't stop one group of Yellowknife students from doing a good deed.

Grade 6 students in Amanda Mallon's class at Mildred Hall school got together quickly when word of Hurricane Mitch's devastation reached them. Moved and saddened by the images of thousands of the dead, homeless and injured people left in the hurricane's wake in Central America, the students got down to work.

They began planning an event to raise money for relief efforts Monday, Nov. 9 and, by Thursday, had pulled it off.

The class held a bake sale that day which raised $170 for the worthy cause.

Goods they (or helpful parents) had baked were sold at recess and over lunch at the school.

"Maybe they (Canadians) should think that they could be in that situation one day," Sharlene Orsi said when asked why people here should help out those in Central America.

Her colleague Josh Hickey agreed.

"Everybody wealthy should give money and donate money to countries that don't have anything," he said.

Nathan Desjarlais was another eager participant.

"It made me feel good because we know they (hurricane victims) don't have food or water," he said.

Safet Zukich praised his mother's efforts.

"My mom's sugar cookies went over like hot-cakes," he said.

The funds have now been turned over to the Salvation Army.