6ABC video screengrab
CV NEWS FEED // After a devastating October 7 fire destroyed the kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms at St. Francis of Assisi School in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, a first grade student used a craft project to raise enough money to cover new classroom supplies for nine teachers.
According to 6 ABC News, first grader Molly McPhillips asked her mom if they could raise money together for the destroyed classrooms by braiding elastic bracelets, a favorite craft for many young children. McPhillips and her friends made enough bracelets to raise $3,200.
Teacher Emily Williamson explained that all the kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms of St. Francis have relocated to St. Kevin Parish Community. Because of McPhillips’ and her friends’ fundraising, the classrooms’ nine teachers were able to buy the supplies they needed with the funds raised by the young students.
The students “stepped up right away and thought of different ways to raise money for the school to rebuild, and for the teachers,” Williamson said in a 6 ABC News report.
McPhillips’ mother, Miranda, described the process, saying, “I thought a couple of family friends would buy the bracelets, and we’d make a few, but we ended up getting almost 600 bracelet orders!”
She said that family friends would meet up at playgrounds and the children would all work on the craft together.
Williamson also joked that thanks to the students’ fundraising efforts, “I have more stuff in my classrooms than I did at St. Francis.”
According to another article by 6 ABC News, officials began an investigation into the cause of the fire after it occurred. The cause remains under investigation, FOX 29 Philadelphia reported on October 25.
Those interested in donating to St. Francis can click here.
