In addition to their usual lessons, the students of Clear Lake Elementary are learning the most important lesson of all – “Love thy neighbor.”
So far, the school has raised more than $500 to help the Rivests, of Addison Township, who lost their home and two family members to a Jan. 5 explosion and fire.
On Friday, Clear Lake students were asked to donate a minimum of $1 each to wear their favorite hat to school.
First-grader James Todd donated $20 to the Rivests.
“It’s my own money,” he said. “I took it out of my bank.”
When asked why he donated so much, Todd replied, “Cause I knew one dollar wouldn’t be enough.”
“I felt really bad about them,” he added.
Prinicipal James Schwarz said donations are still coming into the school.
He noted that people who don’t even have children attending Clear Lake have stopped in to give.