Schools and nurseries gathered to be celebrate a momentous occasion this week, handing over a cheque of more than £6,000 for the Haiti appeal.
Students from Newport and the surrounding villages joined together over the last month in a phenomenal fund raising effort to gather thousands of pounds for the earthquake ravaged country.
Having counted up all of the pennies donated though mufti days and other events the youngsters proudly handed over the cheque of £6,061.62 to humanitarian aid organisation - Operation Blessing.
More than 15 local schools and nurseries took part and Operation Blessing Senior Vice President for the UK, Andrew Charles, who lives in Newport, said is was an incredible effort.
He said: “On behalf of Operation Blessing International I send a heartfelt and sincere thank you, to all who took part in our Newport - Haiti fund raising appeal.
“I feel that a worthy vote of thanks must go to all of the heads of each, and every school that took part, and to the owners of all of the pre-school groups that also kindly joined in to raise much needed funding for Haiti.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Irene Lawrence.
“We are also very grateful for Chetwynd Aston & Woodcote Parish Council’s very kind donation, and for everyone connected with Cosy Hall for very kindly permitting us to use their main hall for both of the press events that took place.”
The Haitian government reports that around 230,000 were killed in the natural disaster, an estimated 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 homeless.
The epicentre of the catastrophic quake, with a magnitude of 7, was 16 miles west of the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince.
Mr Charles said the money raised by Newport students will be helping children of the same age over the Atlantic.
He added: “Praise must be given to all of the children whom took part in raising the magnificent final sum. This is a stunning total, and shows just how much effort the children, and their parents, put into this appeal.
“All the funding is being put to good usage, including a new school that we have opened in a camp for 550 pupils which will directly gain from some of the money raised through this appeal.
“Our community has been seen to have responded so well, and with such care and compassion, to the plight of the people of Haiti.
“Operation Blessing and I thank you very much for all that you have achieved.”
Schools taking part included Moorfield, Adams Grammar, Newport Juniors, Burton Borough, Newport Girls High, St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary, Castle House, Church Aston Infants and Tibberton Primary.
And the town’s nurseries that slo joined the effort were Abacus, Butterflies, Noah’s Ark, Tiggywinkles, PlayDays and Forton.
