The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

Altruism is a central lesson in Tina Merz’ Avid Leadership class and her junior high students have taken it to heart.

Their most recent fundraising efforts have been focused on someone close to home, or in this case, their classroom. They have been raising money for Charlotte Cooper-Robinson, a janitor at John C. Thomas Middle School, who has brain and lung cancer, according to Merz.

Cooper-Robinson is also a grandma to one of Merz’ students.

So far, the students have raised $600 to help with Cooper-Robinson’s medical and other expenses. They’ve had a bake sale, held a dodgeball tournament and are selling some of the paintings they have created in art class.

“If people want to donate to our cause they can bring money to the J.A. Wendt office and tell Cinnon Tarabochia, the K-8 secretary, that it is for the Charlotte Fundraiser,” Merz wrote in an email. “Our Avid Leadership class is in charge of this fundraiser and we are trying to wrap it up in the next week.”