A Connecticut elementary school is filled with about 200 multi-colored, glittery hearts that former Haines resident Winter Cheney, son of Kat and Ted Cheney, has helped hand cut. Cheney, a fifth grader at Cornwall Consolidated School who, with the help of his friends and school counselor Brittany Perrone, has raised roughly $1,000 for the Chilkat Valley Emergency Response since late December.
Perrone had been teaching the kids about acts of kindness when the disaster occurred. Perrone said Chenery talked to her about wanting to help Haines residents, so together they started “Hearts for Haines.” Whenever someone donates, a heart is put up to show love and support.
“I felt very sad,” said Winter when asked about his reaction to the Dec. 2 landslides and floods. “I didn’t know what to do. I felt lost.”
Winter had grown up in Haines. He was shocked when he discovered something bad had happened to his former home.
“I heard how much [Haines] was going through,” said Winter’s friend Arlo Moore, “and I knew it was a good idea to help.”
The Cornwall Consolidated School staff reminds kids to help out by including “Hearts for Haines” in the announcements. Posters and flyers are also up throughout the school. The kids plan to keep this program going as long as it is needed.
“There have been some catastrophic events and we want to help you rebuild and get through this hard time. #HainesStrong,” Cheney and Moore wrote in a letter to the community.