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MONIQUE FIELDSKids collecting quarters for the homeless to use at a Laundromat wondered: What's that?
ST. PETERSBURG - To celebrate the season, prekindergarteners at St. Paul's Catholic School decided to give quarters to the homeless so that they could wash their clothes at a Laundromat.
One problem: "Laundromat" was a foreign concept to the 4- and 5-year-olds. Every time teacher Chris Waterman mentioned the word, the children responded with blank stares.
Thus were the makings of an unusual field trip.
A load of dirty clothes in hand, Waterman on Tuesday led two dozen students across 12th Street N to the Washing Well Laundromat, where they fanned out as if on a treasure hunt, opening washer doors and poking their heads inside.
"Aaaaawesoooooome," one student said, his voice echoing in the machine's metal drum.
The children stuffed the clothes into a machine as Waterman slid quarters into the vending slots.
They were Tucker Klein's quarters from his piggy bank, Cynthia Vankleeck's quarters from her mother and Ethan Dusseault's quarters, earned by cleaning his room.
"We put in five and this many," explained Justine Nelson, 4, holding up three fingers.
Waterman urged the children to step back so that they all could witness the wash cycle.
"I can't see!" 4-year-old Gabbie Haight said. "I can't see."
In the end, the students were somewhat unclear about Laundromats, but they understood why they had collected the quarters.
"Because they don't have any money, and they can't wash their clothes," Justine said.
Or as Adam Dion put it:
"Because it's Jesus' birthday."