Most young children in this country probably take school supplies such as pencils and notebooks for granted.
But children affected by last December's tsunami in Southeast Asia aren't so lucky.
Enter Edison's James Monroe Elementary School.
As part of a nationwide effort by schools in this country, the school donated $1,000 Friday to the Middlesex County Children Helping Children Project, a program run by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
The money raised will go to provide $10 kits, including pencils, construction paper, a ruler, a notebook, a pair of blunt scissors, a sharpener, an eraser and a box of crayons, according to a prepared release.
"We want to help the children rebuild their lives and get back to the business of being schoolchildren," Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel said in a release.
The funds raised by the students will go to purchase school supplies to students affected by the tsunami, project Director Jane Brady said.
Children Helping Children will distribute the $1,000 raised by the students by contacting organizations involved in supplying aid to people afflicted by the tsunami.
"I thought we could be more productive by collecting funds for organizations in the area," Brady said.
Since the program's founding in January, students at the James Monroe School have had opportunities to better understand the lives of the less fortunate, Brady said.
"My feeling is that this would give children here an opportunity to feel directly connected," she said. "I think that in this case, since we are dealing with what a child needs, I think the children will get a better understanding of how lucky they are. When they look at the fact that many of these children don't have houses, much less classrooms, that really comes home to the children."
As a former freeholder, Brady was appointed by Crabiel based on her record of service to the county.
"As a freeholder, my area of responsibility was human services," Brady said of her experience.
Brady called the program a good opportunity to make a difference through the children.
"I always look to solve problems," she said. "That's what I did as a freeholder, and what I did through life. That's what it's all about, is helping each other."
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