thedrifter
04-02-06, 10:20 AM
Students, military mothers march to support U.S. troops
Eight-mile Pleasanton parade brings in more than $1,500
By Kristofer Noceda, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area
PLEASANTON — With the rain taking a break Saturday afternoon, more than 30 students and military mothers marched across town in the first Support the Troops March-A-Thon.
Foothill High School's Support the Troops Club organized the eight-mile march raising more than $1,500 from pledges, donations, selling T-shirts and dogtags for the Pleasanton Military Families Organization.
"We wanted to show the public that even in a time of war there is a way to support our soldiers without being an advocate of war," said Nick Christian, 17, president of the club.
Christian founded the club with student body President Elizabeth Usedom in November. The idea to put on a march came from seeing how people responded to the AIDS walk.
Starting from the school's parking lot, supporters marched south on Foothill Boulevard at 1:30 p.m. Holding American flags and signs, they managed to get cars to honk in support of the troops and receive donations from people on the street.
There were four stations for water breaks along the route with representatives from the Army, Marines andNavy manning the stations. The first break station was in the Bernal Plaza, followed by stops at the Pleasanton Library, Amador High School and Creekside Park before returning to Foothill High School just before 5 p.m.
"People were just walking up to us and handing us money for donations. One of our stations received a $200 check. It was great," Christian said.
Pat Frizzell of the Pleasanton Military Families Organization helped set up stations and was impressed with the effort.
The organization plans to use the proceeds to help pay for care package postage costs.
Christian plans on keeping donations open until the next Pleasanton Military Families Organization meeting on April 11. For information on donating call Foothill High School at (925) 461-6600.
Ellie
Eight-mile Pleasanton parade brings in more than $1,500
By Kristofer Noceda, STAFF WRITER
Inside Bay Area
PLEASANTON — With the rain taking a break Saturday afternoon, more than 30 students and military mothers marched across town in the first Support the Troops March-A-Thon.
Foothill High School's Support the Troops Club organized the eight-mile march raising more than $1,500 from pledges, donations, selling T-shirts and dogtags for the Pleasanton Military Families Organization.
"We wanted to show the public that even in a time of war there is a way to support our soldiers without being an advocate of war," said Nick Christian, 17, president of the club.
Christian founded the club with student body President Elizabeth Usedom in November. The idea to put on a march came from seeing how people responded to the AIDS walk.
Starting from the school's parking lot, supporters marched south on Foothill Boulevard at 1:30 p.m. Holding American flags and signs, they managed to get cars to honk in support of the troops and receive donations from people on the street.
There were four stations for water breaks along the route with representatives from the Army, Marines andNavy manning the stations. The first break station was in the Bernal Plaza, followed by stops at the Pleasanton Library, Amador High School and Creekside Park before returning to Foothill High School just before 5 p.m.
"People were just walking up to us and handing us money for donations. One of our stations received a $200 check. It was great," Christian said.
Pat Frizzell of the Pleasanton Military Families Organization helped set up stations and was impressed with the effort.
The organization plans to use the proceeds to help pay for care package postage costs.
Christian plans on keeping donations open until the next Pleasanton Military Families Organization meeting on April 11. For information on donating call Foothill High School at (925) 461-6600.
Ellie