We’re all familiar with grand plans that fall short of expectations. File these under “start big, finish small.” It’s heartening when the opposite happens.
That’s exactly what took place at Concord High School Thursday night.
JON SANTIAGO and his students had an idea that grew. Santiago, a private music teacher serving in the high school, and his students had been talking about how to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Their plan was a small fund-raiser by their clarinet group. However, word spread at Concord.
Choir director Brittany Gableman said the Concord Singers had also been looking for ways to help Haiti. Soon they were part of the program.
In short order, so were the Memorial High School music departments. So was the Martin Luther King community choir.
In the end, more than 15 high school and community groups made music to make money for a good cause Thursday. That’s good news.
THE CONCORD COMMUNITY isn’t alone in its efforts. For example, International Baccalaureate schools across Indiana have been challenged to a “Penny War” by Ben Davis High School. The goal is to raise money for the Red Cross Haiti relief effort. Goshen High School’s IB students are part of the effort, and donations will be collected in the cafeteria and classrooms through Feb. 19.
Raising money to rebuild Haiti is serious business. That doesn’t mean the process has to be doom and gloom. At New Paris Elementary School Friday, fund-raising efforts culminated in teachers willing to be hit in the face with pies. If we recall our childhoods, there were plenty of smiling students in New Paris Friday.
These efforts have one thing in common — people who care. More importantly, they are continuing to care about Haiti weeks after the quake.
An outpouring of aid was to be expected when the disaster was fresh news, horrific images blanketing newspapers are TV screens. But it will take more than a burst of compassion to secure Haiti’s future. This will be a sustained effort.
We seem to be up to the task. And in some cases, we’ll have fun doing it.
