'We felt like doing something about it': Pembroke fifth-graders raise $2,000 for Ukraine

PEMBROKE – Two fifth grade students from North Pembroke Elementary School visited all 27 classrooms on a recent school day, hardly taking any breaks between each visit.

Passionately, the two 11-year-old students, Madeline Rejewski and Violet Carson, explained what is happening in Ukraine to fellow students from pre-K all the way to grade 6.

For the older students, they used a slide show to help illustrate the ongoing war. For younger grades, they made videos with visuals to keep them interested, teaching them about kindness and giving back.

Within two weeks, Madeline and Violet had raised about $2,100 by selling bracelets for $3 each at school, donating all the profits to the Save the Children Foundation to help kids their age in Ukraine.

“The universe is the limit," Madeline said. "Not the sky.”

The foundation will use the money donated to provide blankets, food and shelter for children in Ukraine.

Before the April break, the girls heard about the war on the news.

"I felt awful," Madeline said. "So we felt like doing something about it.”

Under the suggestion of their parents, they decided to raise money for the nonprofit. When the girls brought a small presentation and their plan with them to the school, even their teachers were surprised.

"They were very professional and did an amazing job researching the country," Meghan Grier, the girls' teacher, said.

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They thought about making bracelets themselves at first, but decided to order yellow and blue rubber bracelets with "Ukraine" written on them to save time. They ordered 200 in the first batch, hoping to raise about $500 in total. The bracelets were sold out by the next day.

Now, they've racked up a total of about 500 sales, and more bracelets are on the way. Many students brought in larger bills, and donated the change as well.

"We only have about 500 students in the school," Madeline said. "The school was pumped up."

Using social media, including Facebook and Twitter, the project drew the attention of the local community.

“We were going to the bus after school and a third grade teacher told us that her mother asked if she can have a bracelet," Violet said.

The girls have inspired other students to help people affected by the war.

"I have been receiving emails from many lower-grade students wanting to do fundraising for Ukraine," Erica Swift, the school principal, said. "They have brought everyone together."

“A lot of people might have something they want to do but didn’t," Violet said. "If they see what we do, maybe they will believe in themselves too.”

They are currently sold out of the bracelets, but they have a donation page.

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Reach Hongyu Liu at HLiu@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Pembroke students raising money for Ukraine by selling bracelets