FREEPORT -- Area residents -- including students -- went out of their way to donate money to the Haitian relief cause, with $8,446.82 donated as of February 8, 2010.

Students at Aquin Catholic Central schools raised about $375 toward the relief effort and 100 middle school students at Apple River School turned in a whopping $1,795.32 on Friday, Feb. 5, after four days of effort that included collection canisters, pay 'n play movie events, a juice raffle, a bake sale, and a three-point shoot off. Students presented Diana Roemer, chapter executive, with a giant mock check Friday in a ceremony fit for royalty. The children even performed a percussion and xylophone piece their music teacher wrote for the Red Cross called Haitian Sunshine.

In addition, students from Carl Sandburg turned in $2,500 to the Haitian Relief Effort.

Ongoing efforts to raise funds also include a checking account/credit card/loan promotion through Fifth Third Bank's Freeport office. For every checking account opened, for example, Fifth Third will donate $25 to the local ARC chapter through its Community Matters program. See Rod Knowlton or Michael Saccomando at Freeport's downtown branch for more information on how you can help Haiti and your local American Red Cross chapter by opening  an account at Fifth Third today.

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