SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Students from Zephyr Cove Elementary School and George Whittell High School have been raising money for the victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti.

The elementary school raised $1,000 by collecting coins from students, while the high school raised more than $3,000 through a pre-show pizza dinner and a coin drive. The efforts at Whittell High continued this week, as students sold $10 T-shirts to benefit the earthquake-torn country.

“We’re so proud of our students because they came to us and wanted raise money,” said Whittell High Principal Sue Shannon. “They recognize that there are people in need and they can do something to help them.”

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The high school’s Key Club hosted a pizza dinner before a Jan. 25 talent show, with food donated by Fox & Hound Bar and Grill, Sam’s Place, New York Pizza and Safeway at Roundhill Square. That event raised $546 dollars.

The second effort was the “Miracle Minute” on Jan. 27, organized by the Leadership Club.

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“The kids bring in as much change as they can – and we got a few hundred dollars in bills – they dump all their change at their teacher’s desk at the beginning of third period,” Shannon said.

“The teacher can’t start class until the change is counted,” she added. “So there’s a whole incentive for the kids to bring in a lot of change.”

At Zephyr Cove Elementary, two teachers approached principal Nancy Cauley and suggested raising money for Haiti. They placed a plastic pickle jar in each classroom, let the students decorate the jar, and asked them to each contribute dollar in change. The effort raised about $1,000.

Cauley said they will donate the funds to a charity that focuses on children and education. Similarly, the funds from Whittell High will go to a charity to benefit children.