Snow Day turns into flurry of donations at Durbin Creek

More than 1,000 Northwest St. Johns County residents recently flocked to Durbin Creek Elementary School to enjoy a day of snow. But they also brought books, canned food and monetary donations, making the day a true success, according to the school's Parent Teacher Organization, the event sponsor.

In the second annual event, called Durbin Creek Cares Snow Much, 10 tons of fake snow were dumped at the school on Jan. 31. The money raised at the event, along with donated items, went to five charities, said PTO President Reisha Rust. Despite the tight economy, she said this year was much larger than the last.

"It was absolutely the most heart-warming experience," said Durbin Creek Principal Patricia Falaney. "The children were there to have fun, but even if you asked the youngest ones they knew the funds raised were going to help people."

She said $400 was raised in a chili cook-off for Relay for Life with the American Cancer Society, and $1,300 was given to Community PEDSCare, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida's pediatric arm.

Through donations, the PTO was able to give more than 500 books to Books A Go-Go in Jacksonville and 500 cans of food to O.A.R. Community Food Bank in Hastings.

Rust said she was "touched" to see the community so willing to give back.

"It's such an important event," Rust said. "We are in such an economic watch time, but parents keep supporting us and supporting the school."

The four-hour event included a 48-foot toboggan slide and a truck blowing facsimile snow onto a field, where children laughed and threw snow balls.

There was also a giant earth balloon, which children could sit inside and view satellite images.

The PTO called January the school's month of "Changing the World" and kicked it off by asking students to collect change to make fleece blankets for the PEDSCare children. Rust said they needed roughly $600, and the children brought in $1,700 in change - a $300 increase from last year when the kids donated change for a charity, Rust said.

A week later, the students brought in $1,900 for the victims in the Haiti earthquake.

Snow Day is now a finalist for Outstanding Community Service Project in 2009 for PTO Today, a national company.

Falaney said she was "bowled over" at how much money the school has raised.

"It shows that even a little amount each family gives makes a difference," she said.