RIVERTON, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Riverton High School students took action to raise money for refugees in Utah.
They presented a check for $81,087.11 to the Salt Lake office of the 'International Rescue Committee' Friday.
The kids learned first hand what it would be like to move to a strange land last year when their fundraising project started. One student from each class was taken to Camp Williams, without a cell phone, where they were met by people who spoke languages they couldn't understand.
"Focus the students on making a change inside their hearts and inside themselves and we find that when this change occurs, that the money just tends to come," says Student Body President Austin Emch.
"This is unprecedented for us, it's incredible to see these students, the spirit they have, to see these humanitarians at this age." says Patrick Poulin, the Executive Director of the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City.
The money came in a dollar at a time. Kids did everything from knocking on doors to do odd jobs around the house, to taking pledges to kiss a llama.
The money will go to help refugee families living in Utah, to pay for things like rent, medicine and utilities.
The 'International Rescue Committee' estimates about 500 refugees will be moving into the community this year.
