Upper classmen will forego decorations, banquet and DJ music for prom this year in a small Nebraska town. The Hay Springs High School classmates located about 20 miles southeast of Chadron, will contribute their prom funds to help the people of Haiti.
The Hay Springs High School juniors and seniors voted last week to turn more than $5,300 they’ve raised for prom over to Operation USA to fund relief efforts in Haiti after last month’s devastating earthquake there.
Melanie Wieseler, the junior class sponsor, said a community patron suggested the kids focus more on celebrating together rather than the money they spend on their surroundings. Students Wacey Schmid and Trenton Kuhn took the idea of donating their funds from the school’s student council, where it was first presented, to the junior and senior student body. They decided the money could do more good there and set about researching a charitable organization.
The Hay Springs juniors and seniors chose Operation USA’s Haiti relief efforts.
The Los Angeles, Calif.-based agency has delivered $350 million in relief and development projects in 99 countries since its inception. The plans for prom are more low-key with music including an iPod and a set of big speakers. Some of the kids have said they would eat macaroni and cheese for the dinner. “They just want a social night together,” Wiesler said.
Wieseler said the students have also challenged other high school students to donate to Haiti relief efforts. Donations can be made to an account the class has set up at Security First Bank in Hay Springs. For more information on Operation USA, go to: www.opusa.org.
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