Horlick Students Raise Thousands For 122 Homeless Families

The whole school talked about what the Student Government group was doing for the past two weeks at .

Members of the group normally collected money for the homeless kids in their school. But this year was different in that the students, staff, families and even business owners were more aware of the number of homeless families that attend school at Horlick this year.

They totaled 122 in their school alone and in the Racine Unified School District, over 1,000 students are considered homeless.

Thomas Stark, junior class executive for Student Government, said they kicked off the fund-raiser by putting buckets on each of the English classroom doors.

Students gathered change from their cars, purses and donated money from their jobs. Teachers rallied their students by talking up the cause, and giving their own money. Families matched their student’s donations -- $50, $100, and $150. And businesses donated too, he said.

“Teachers were having contests to see who could raise more money, they really got into it,” Stark said.

Gabe Stoner, who teaches English at Horlick, and his class raised the most with $2,021.93.

They raised $6,434.55, and then they raised an additional $316 from their annual craft fair. In past years the highest amount raise was $2,700. The money was used to buy 135-$50 gift cards to Wal-Mart, which will be given to their families to purchase what they need.

Stark said the level of enthusiasm for the project was great to see.

“We just really got into it,” Stark said. “We all knew these were kids that we go to school with, but we couldn’t tell they were homeless. I’m so proud of what we’ve done. It makes me proud to say that I’m a Rebel.”