Local students raise funds for firefighters, fire safety awareness
Santa Margarita Elementary School fifth graders Riley Petrie and Sarafina Treader, center, present checks to representatives of the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and the Santa Margarita Fire Department.
Santa Margarita Elementary School students triple original goal
Riley Petrie, pictured at left, and Sarafina Treader, right, decorate coin collection cans.
–More than a century ago, Edward Everett Hale, an American author and historian, said, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something.” That very same sentiment has been carried on through the works of many like-minded individuals of all ages including Riley Petrie, a fifth-grade student at Santa Margarita Elementary School who turned it into action when she spearheaded a recent fundraiser to benefit a local fire department, as well raise awareness for fire safety and burn victims.
The idea took root when Petrie, 10, learned about fires happening over the summer in and around the Paso Robles area, including the Chimney Fire. Her stepfather, Dustin Eddy, a volunteer with Santa Margarita Fire Department, kept her up-to-date on the fires and the effects they were having on firefighters as well as people in the local community.
A natural-born helper, Petrie asked her friend, fellow fifth-grader and 10-year-old Sarafina Treader, to join her efforts. Together, they decided to pitch their idea for a fundraiser to Principal Marshawn Porter. They explained to Porter that they intended to ask other students at SMES to donate their spare change in hopes of raising $200 to benefit the all-volunteer Santa Margarita Fire Department and the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation. Once Petrie and Treader were given the go-ahead, they decorated and delivered coin collection cans to each classroom, made posters, and got the word out.
Riley Petrie and Sarafina Treader count coins donated by their fellow students.
At the end of the first day, when they had already raised a little over $110, the girls knew the fundraiser was bigger than they had initially anticipated. In all, the 10-day campaign netted more than $751, with $475.60 going to the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and $275.59 to the Santa Margarita Fire Department. Petrie, a student of Kimberly Bertrand, and Treader, a student of Mariel Buikema, presented the checks during lunch at the annual Burn Relay event earlier this month.
“It’s amazing what all of us students were able to do,” said Petrie. “Miss Teel’s class alone brought in $207. We also left donation cans at Kennedy Clubs and Salon Gloss.”
When asked about the reaction from representatives of both organizations receiving the funds, Petrie said, “They were very surprised – I don’t think they expected such a small school to be able to raise that much money. When we handed them the checks it was fun to see their faces when they noticed the amount.”
“I think it’s great to acknowledge these kids doing such selfless things at this age; it will truly leave an impact on them forever,” said Cassie Petrie Eddy, Riley’s mom. “Words cannot even describe how proud I am of these girls.”
Members of the all-volunteer Santa Margarita Fire Department take a moment to thank Riley Petrie and Sarafina Treader, students at Santa Margarita Elementary School, for their donation.
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