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In one day, students raise $2,600

Walter Middle School collects money to send two truckloads of water to hurricane victims.

ODESSA - Some victims of Hurricane Charley are getting a much-needed respite, thanks to students at Walker Middle School.

In one day, they raised about $2,600 for disaster relief. Then they turned money to water.

"We sent two truckloads," principal Marc Hutek said. "We've told the kids that at this point in time, these people should be getting relief from the water the kids purchased."

Hutek said a group of students approached him in the lunch room the week after the hurricane, wanting to help the victims. So with that in mind, Hutek appeared on the Walker Middle School morning show and announced that many students wanted to do something to help. He designated the next day, Friday, as a one-day fundraiser.

"The drop-off point was in the main office the next morning," Hutek said. "Parents came in, kids came in, and in one day we raised $2,600."

Faculty member Susan Roberts then contacted the American Red Cross and was told what hurricane victims needed most was water.

Hutek said he told the students that if they had been watching the news, they must realize how bad it is that people had little water to drink and no water to bathe in.

"We've made an important contribution," he said. "There was overwhelming support from parents, and the kids have gotten a really good feeling out of it."