SALEM — When Maxwell McAuliffe saw news reports of Haitian earthquake victims reeling from the loss of their homes and loved ones, it dawned on him that children lost something on top of everything else — their toys.
With that in mind, Maxwell, 7, set to collecting 100 soccer balls to donate to Haitian children.
He enlisted the help of his classmates and staff at Horace Mann Lab School and spread the word through posters, announcements at school, e-mails and more.
"It turned into a really big thing," said Maxwell, who was even contacted by a 6-year-old boy in Tennessee who discovered the fundraiser on The Salem News Web site and sent Maxwell $40.
"My friends and me that helped are really feeling good about it," Maxwell said. "We feel good that we're helping them through an earthquake that just happened."
The soccer balls, which local schoolchildren signed, are being shipped to Haiti through a Seattle-based aid organization.
"We are so proud of Maxwell and his determination to help other children in Haiti," said Derek Sciba, a spokesman for World Concern, which will deliver the soccer balls by barge along with relief kits for children in need.
"What remains true in spite of this trauma," Sciba said, "is that they are still children and still need to play. It is through activities like soccer and other social interaction that many of these children will be able to cope."
For the children in Salem who participated, the project provided an outlet to get involved in the relief efforts.
"We made posters," said Maddy Coco, 8, one of Maxwell's classmates.
"We were just really working hard after we got the soccer balls," added Nash Rougvie, 7. "We got to sign them, which we thought was exciting."
To personalize the donations, all of the students at the Horace Mann and Witchcraft Heights Schools signed them. Witchcraft Heights students and staff also donated to the fundraiser.
"We have 24 soccer balls — one for each class — that the children signed," Witchcraft Heights Principal Mark Higgins said, "including a Braille signature from one of our blind students. We were happy to support this worthy cause."
"They're really excited about what they've accomplished," said Maxwell's second-grade teacher at Horace Mann, Kris Giacchetti.
Maxwell's father, Gavin McAuliffe, said he will post a video on YouTube of Maxwell with some of his friends with the soccer balls. In turn, when the balls are delivered, World Concern can film the children receiving them, McAuliffe said.
"We're hoping to build bridges and connections with kids down there in a visual way," he said.
Sciba said World Concern has worked in Haiti more than 30 years, and since the Jan. 12 earthquake, its Haiti staff of more than 100 people has reached about 100,000 people with food and other critical aid.
The soccer balls will be delivered to vulnerable children along with Kids' Healing Kits, which include soap, a towel and other hygiene items, as well as pencils, paper and a couple of toys, Sciba said.
"I really am happy that people helped me in getting the soccer balls," Maxwell said.
Staff writer Amanda McGregor can be reached at amcgregor@salemnews.com.
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