Just over a month ago a 7.0 earthquake rocked Haiti devastating a country already overwhelmed by poverty and a long history of social and political challenges.  Within days, CWA students, like so many people around the world, were pitching in to help.  In all three divisions, students have come up with creative ways to raise money, awareness and needed supplies.  

Sixth grader Billy Beggs was inspired by the story of Molly Hightower, a local woman who was volunteering in an orphanage in Haiti and was killed during the quake.  Her family is collecting and shipping shoes to the Caribbean country.  Billy set up donation boxes in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools and collected 747 pairs of shoes, more than one pair of shoes for every student on campus.  Molly’s father, Mike, personally came to CWA for a Lower School Town Hall to offer his own moving message of gratitude.

In the Lower, Middle and Upper School, students have also raised funds for aid organizations with bake sales.  Upper School students sold Val-o-grams for the cause and donated all the profits from the Winter Homecoming dance.

Many faculty members have helped the students with these projects.  They’ve also led many class discussions to help students understand the events in Haiti and their historical context.  Rev. Mike Moffitt, in his role as school chaplain, has made himself available to all members of the CWA community struggling to understand the larger philosophical and theological questions raised by natural disasters.  He has opened the chapel for prayer, reflection and silent mediation.