Students raise thousands for fellow student on Dr. Seuss’s birthday
There was Thing I and Thing 2, lots of “The Cat in the Hat” hats and lots of blue hair.
On Dr. Seuss’s birthday last week, students at Good Shepherd Lutheran School had a fund raiser to benefit a fellow student who is dealing with a major medical issue.
“Two years ago, a young sixth grader, Katie Dye, had transplant surgery and at the time it seemed to take,” said Kellie McIntosh, who is the PTO president and a teacher at the school. “That was until this Christmas time, when she went back to the hospital because there was brain swelling, a common thing once transplants go wrong.”
The young girl’s family is now under tremendous financial pressure.
“My husband and I knew costs could be astronomical,” McIntosh said. “A few weeks ago we came up with the idea to sell Cat in the Hat hats and do a walk-a-thon. We had students do laps in the field with donations or pledges per lap or straight donations.”
It was highly successful. “We raised over $2,000.”
Dr. Seuss is a particular favorite at the school. “We have a whole area dedicated to him in our new library,” McIntosh said.
Anyone who still wants to donate can call the school 995-7711.
Easter Basket Drive
McIntosh also wanted to remind the North Fort Myers and Cape Coral communities that the school’s annual Easter Basket Project, which provides hundreds of baskets for children in need, is now in full swing.
“This will be our third year of doing the basket drive. Our goal the first year was to get 500 baskets, and we actually had 1,500 baskets. Last year we did approximately the same number.”
Students, parents and businesses throughout Lee County donate either baskets or basket fillers to the drive. “Our kids always get very involved, with the bulk of our donations coming from our students.”
Businesses from North Fort Myers, Cape Coral and downtown Fort Myers help. “Right now we need businesses that want to be drop off locations,” she said.
They are looking for pre-assembled baskets, but will also accept donations of wrapped candy.
Children from the Children’s Network of Lee County and those in local shelters and referred by local agencies get the baskets each year.
For information to help contribute to the Seuss fund, or the Easter Basket Drive, call McIntosh at the school at 995-7711.