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Sep 17, 2008 4:54 pm US/Central
Arlington 4th Grader Sets Out To Help Ike Victims
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 News) ―
Help for victims of Hurricane Ike is coming in many forms. In Arlington, there is big meaning behind a small fundraiser organized by one little girl.
The 9-year-old, who has felt personal tragedy, is now reaching out to help others.
There's a simple message written and taped to a plastic jug that greets visitors at Corey Elementary School. It reads, "From our hearts to yours help the hurricane victims."
The collection jug was the idea of Danielle Pressley. She is a soft spoken fourth-grader with a big heart. "Cause lots of people start up donations and stuff so I wanted to start one for the people who lost a lot of stuff in Hurricane Ike," she explained timidly.
Pressley knows what's it's like to have tragedy strike. Her family's home burned to the ground two years ago. The little girl remembers when it happened. "I lost my bed, all my toys, my Barbie collection, and my favorite bunny called My Bunny," she explained.
Danielle has watched the news and seen the devastation left behind by Ike.
The money she is collecting in her plastic jug is for the children affected by the storm.
Wednesday afternoon Danielle looked inside the jug and deduced that since there was one $10 bill, along with lots of $1 bills and silver, she had collected about $15 so far. While that's not a fortune it's more than enough to make an impression.
"A lot of times it takes a child to really bring things, how simple an idea can be and how powerful it can become," said Corey principal Steve Howell.
The money raised will be given to the Salvation Army.
Danielle says all she wants if for the kids affected by Ike to know that North Texans care. "It makes me feel happy that people see this and they put money into it. It makes me feel good," she said.
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