Mellon students raise money for Ukraine

Mellon students ask for help in their continuing efforts to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. In a combined one week effort with JMS students, they have raised approximately $2,000 for the charity Save the Children Ukraine and they do not intend to stop. Feeling sad and overwhelmed by the ongoing war in the Ukraine, 7th grader Vanshika Jain decided to take action. With the help of other Mellon UNITES members and student council, they created products that could be placed on donation tables including a student-designed “Lebo stands with Ukraine” keychain. They also painted small pots yellow and blue for sunflower seeds as the sunflower is the Ukrainian National flower. The organizers of the Mellon Market agreed to participate in the first fundraiser, and were able to add a $300 donation. Mellon UNITES also joined up with JMS United, another group working to gather donations for Ukrainian refugees. Donation tables were set up at Washington Elementary, at the JMS musical and at the high school for the district orchestra concert. The group is now collaborating with Mellon student council and will be continuing their efforts to raise money. Anyone who would like to help with creating or donating products for the tables, please contact kduchin@mtlsd.net.

– A note of thanks to Mr. Campion and Mrs. Snyder, the tech teachers at MMS and JMS for helping with the keychains that were made in Matt’s Maker Space, the teachers who run the Mellon market, Mr. Hessler for the use of his room, Mrs. Duchin for being the sponsor, and Mrs.Tighe for helping the group. A thanks to Vanshika Jain who raised an additional $1,100 that she donated to the Ashton Kutcher/Mila Kunis matching GoFundME page.