12/20/2025
From our press release: Staff and students at Buffalo Elementary School held our finale of the annual Kids Helping Kids fundraiser on Friday to raise money for a classroom aide’s family who suffered a house fire this week.
Each December, students spend several days doing Kids Helping Kids activities to benefit local charities, community-based organizations, families burdened by illness, and neighbors in need.
On Friday morning, participated in Minute to Win It, a friendly competition against teachers. For 25 cents per chance, students can enter to compete in challenges like cup stacking, rubber band flinging at card pyramids, fluffy “snow ball” throwing at stuffed snowmen, and dice stacking on a tongue depressor. In the afternoon, they are treated to pizza and a movie.
On Wednesday afternoon, students sold crafts, items, and baked goods. Highlights this year included fingernail painting, raffle tickets, and 3D-printed projects.
As of Thursday afternoon, funds raised this week by students and staff totaled over $7,000.
This year, all proceeds of the fundraiser will benefit the family of Autistic Support education assistant at Buffalo Elementary who lost everything in a housefire on Tuesday.
Heather Check, Buffalo Elementary kindergarten teacher and union president of the Freeport Education Association, said, “This is a cherished tradition in our district where our students learn what it means to look out for those around you who may be in need. We are raising thousands of dollars each year for worthy causes, but we are also raising the next generation to be good neighbors in our community. One of our Autistic Support education assistants lost her house and everything in it on Tuesday. No one perished in the fire, but the family is devastated and struggling with basic household items. Each year, students select one or more organizations to receive donations, but redirected their efforts to support our beloved staff member who is also a parent of two kids in the district.”
The annual Kids Helping Kids event began in the 1970s, when proceeds supported the KDKA’s Free Care Fund for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, with students making donations live on air.
A GoFundMe for the family has been organized by Suzanne Conger, who works in the cafeteria and is a member of the Freeport Education Support Professionals Association: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-our-friends-who-lost-their-home
Other schools in the district have also conducted fundraisers for local charities, including Stuff A Bus and candy cane sales at Freeport Area Middle School.
Freeport Education Association and Freeport Education Support Professionals Association are union locals of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, a state affiliate of the National Education Association. PSEA represents 177,000 education professionals throughout the Commonwealth.
