Students at area schools regularly participate in fundraising. The purpose is not always to benefit the schools themselves, but i's also designed to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Dr. Kathy Murphy, principal at Greenville Middle School, said GMS students participate in several different fundraisers each year and that, along with having fundraisers for local organizations and events, the middle school also helps with national fundraisers.

&uot;Our school is very much involved in fundraising events not only in our community but in organizations such as the American Red Cross and other national organizations,&uot; Murphy said.

Some of the other organizations the school helps raise money for include the Butler County United Fund, the American Diabetes Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, the March of Dimes and several other organizations.

The students have been helping out with several fundraisers this year that were related to the disasters in New York City and Washington, D.C. Those charities include the American Red Cross Dollars and Dimes for Disaster, the Afghan Children's Fund and the New York Disaster Relief program.

W. O. Parmer Elementary School Principal Carole Teague said W. O. Parmer students helped raise $250 for the New York Firefighters Association after the September 11 tragedy by making American flags. The students also participate in several annual fundraisers such as Jump Rope for Heart (American Heart Association) and the Butler County Department of Human Resources canned food drive. In addition, the students hold fundraisers for individuals in the community who have suffered tragedy.

&uot;When a family in the community suffers a tragedy, a class will help raise money or food for that family,&uot; Teague said. &uot;It depends on how big a tragedy it is as to whether or not the entire school will participate.&uot;

W.O. Parmer students participate in the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation fundraisers and other annual fundraising events for national organizations.

John Ashcroft, band director at Greenville High School, said the band members will be having their annual Christmas concert next Thursday and individuals must bring a non-perishable food item for admission to the concert.

According to GHS SOCKS (Saving Our Community Kids) Club sponsor Michelle Johnson, the club recently sponsored a canned food drive with the Butler County Department of Human Resources.

According to Johnson, SOCKS collected 600 cans of food for the drive and are now sponsoring a toy drive along with the Department of Human Resources (DHR) through December 14. DHR picks up the donations from each drive and distributes them to needy families.

Georgiana High School principal Roland Pettie said the Georgiana students participate in several fundraising events such as canned food drives which help needy families in our community as well as nationally and worldwide. This year, Georgiana students raised money and sent a check to the Afghan Children's Fund and are currently participating in a program to provide meals for needy families.

Pettie said the students participate in as many fundraising events as possible. &uot;Everything we can do to help, we do,&uot; he said.

Although they do not realize what an impact they have on the world when they help with these various fundraisers, many times it is the students who make the difference in a needy situation.