EAST PALESTINE — For the third time this school year, local students joined together to raise money for families in the community affected by house fires.
Students raised money during the Monday home girls basketball game against Columbiana for the Snyder family, whose Alice Street home was damaged by a fire on Sunday.
The Snyder family and their pet cat were able to get out safely and the fire was deemed accidental.
East Palestine High School student Parker Sherry told the board of education during the Monday meeting that classmates were taking up a donation during that night’s basketball game to help out students AJ Snyder and his sister Paige, who attend the district.
Paige Snyder plays on the girls basketball team while their father, John Snyder, is a teacher with the district.
“It’s amazing,” Superintendent Chris Neifer said not only of the students’ desire to help out in times of need, but also the entire community’s willingness to pitch in.
“They really rally around each other. Bulldog pride is something we live,” he said.
Students joined together to raise donations for two other families affected by house fires this year as well.
In October, students also raised money for the Gary and Dawn Frazier family, who lost their Pleasant Drive home in a fire. Their son attends the high school.
Donations were taken during an East Palestine vs. Columbiana football game.
Neifer also said that in August, two sophomore students on the volleyball team were supported by the district after a fire affected their family in town.
kwhite@mojonews.com