North Strabane Intermediate School students collect donations for local Hillman Center
Students at North Strabane Intermediate School let loose Friday afternoon with a dodgeball tournament.
That was the reward for students at the Canon-McMillan school for another successful fundraiser to help the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
Teacher Brook Sharpnack said the annual project began in 2016, a year after his father passed away due to cancer. His father received treatment for years at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
“We were trying to come up with some sort of service project to give back and that’s the first place we thought of,” Sharpnack said. “It’s been going strong since then. Every single year we are just amazed at what is given.”
Students contribute in a number of ways.
Motivational letters are written to patients. Items such as blankets, slippers, puzzle books, playing cards and even snacks are collected, as well as cash donations. There’s also a Penny War, which generated an eye-popping 54,731 pennies. The pennies collected are in turn used to purchase gift cards for the patients.
After years of making the donations to the facility in Shadyside, donations currently go to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Washington.
Teacher Sherri Snyder said donated items filled 28 big boxes, while cash donations totaled $2,400, all of which was collected in a span of seven days.
It was all taken to Hillman Wednesday.
“They’re so appreciative,” Sharpnack said.
Snyder said one of the most touching aspects of this undertaking are the letters written by 10- and 11-year-old kids.
“Some of the inspiration that comes from these kids is incredible,” she said.
One letter writer penned, “When I’m having a tough time, I take a deep breath and put one foot in front of the other. Remember, cancer may be threatening, but you are 10 times smarter, 10 times stronger, 10 times more awesome than it could ever be.”
Sharpnack and Snyder said they strive to teach kindness and generosity at the school, and this project is representative of that.
“One of the things I wanted to tell the kids is that when they wake up Christmas morning, they should wake up feeling so proud and with a good feeling in their heart that they did something for somebody who is going through a tough time,” Snyder said.