The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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    Fundraising

July 2, 2009

Funds for tornado victims

Mankato students are raising money to help Austin residents

By Tanner Kent

MANKATO — Weather has not been kind to the folks in Austin lately.

Two weeks ago, a tornado savaged the southeastern Minnesota town, causing an estimated $4 million in damage to city infrastructure, businesses and homes.

On Wednesday, as dozens of Mankato elementary students were selling root beer floats and lemonade to raise money for the victims, it was overcast skies, a spitting drizzle and decidedly anti-ice cream weather that added insult to injury.

“I even did a sun dance when I woke up this morning,” said Jake Bidwell, a soon-to-be Garfield Elementary student who is enrolled in the summer service-learning program, Learning in Deed.

“I don’t know if it worked, though.”

Gray skies and wind were no matter, however, as Bidwell and his fellow service-learners spent two hours luring shoppers, motorists and sidewalk passersby to Mankato’s downtown Hy-Vee. All the materials for their lemonade, root beer floats and bags of trail mix were donated, so all proceeds went to a Red Cross donation fund for victims of the Austin tornado.

And despite the fickle weather, students had plenty of success — thanks to a well-planned strategic effort.

Students split into four groups. Two of them worked the food stands, which were placed outside both entrances to Hy-Vee to maximize walk-by interest.

The other two groups worked as the marketing brigade, standing alongside Riverfront Drive with handmade placards and rather enthusiastic invitations for passing cars to stop and enjoy refreshments.

“Come back,” yelled Jarred Hannem as a pickup truck made the left toward Arby’s instead of the right toward ice cream and root beer, “it’s for a good cause.”

Rosemary Reffitt remained optimistic all along, betting better business would come with warmer weather.

“I don’t think this road is busy enough yet,” said the 9-year-old, peering down two lanes of quiet Riverfront traffic.

She was right.

As the clouds cleared, traffic got busier. And by morning’s end, students had collected $175 — a princely sum for such fledgling philanthropists.

“They came up with the idea and did the work themselves,” said Andrea Egberg, a Mankato teacher who supervises Learning in Deed. “They were pretty excited.”

Learning in Deed is a five-week district program that blends service learning with academic learning. Several projects and city trips are planned throughout the summer — last week, students visited “hometown heroes” such as police officers and firefighters — while teachers mix in reading and math skills.

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