From: Jenny Ringley

I am in the eighth grade at West Middle.

My name is Jenny Ringley and I am involved in the Hands to Hamletproject.

I think that it's a great project. Hands to Hamlet is all about some kids in North Carolina whose parents were killed in a fire when the factory they worked in burned down.

The girl Team Eight is helping is Crystal Barrington, age 15. Her father was killed in the fire.

We are collecting and sending presents for Christmas. Hopefully, we will get a lot of nice things for her.

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From: Steven Wheeler

This is in response to your question on how we feel at West Middle about helping the Hands for Hamlet charity fund.

I think we feel real good about ourselves in West Middle for helping the less fortunate. At West Middle, each team is assigned to a young person in our Hands for Hamlet project.

I call it a project because it's a type of project. On Team Seven, we collect money in homeroom and at lunch. The money collected will be given to some selected people on each team to go out and buy presents for that young person in the project.

Some say we're a large Santa Claus for the kids. Each teamhas a different way of doing all this.

I'm enjoying this project very much because I've hardly done much charity work and it makes me feel good to help out. When I say this, I think I speak for everybodyat West Middle. We don't do it because we have to; we do it because we want to.

If the wealthy people would help out the little man, then I think this world would be a whole lot better place.

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From: Carisa Cook

My name is Carisa Cook and I attend Westminster West Middle School.

Hands to Hamlet is a way that people more fortunate can help the citizens of Hamlet, N.C. The reason people want to help them is because a fire started and burned in their town.

I feelstrongly about helping them because if we were in that situation, wewould want other people to help us too. Hands to Hamlet is the only way because we can't travel to North Carolina just to give them one gift apiece, so this is the best way.

If you were in that situationand you had young children, no place to live and no food to eat, wouldn't you want help? It's especially important because the holidays are coming up soon.

I am going to make a donation. You should thinkabout it, too.

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From: Tina McMullen

As an eighth-grader atWest Middle School, I think Hands for Hamlet is a great idea.

Helping the kids in North Carolina will be a great success. I think the kids really need Santa Claus to come to their houses. Students for Team Seven go around and collect spare change during lunch to help the boy we'll be buying presents for.

I feel sorry for them because they don't have their parents anymore. It's like last Christmas was thelast one with their parents. If my parents died, I would be happy ifsomeone cared so much.

I'm glad we got involved in helping the children and teens in Hamlet. Maybe we will make Claude and the other kids happy this Christmas. I'm glad we're involved in this project because we can do something good for other people, not just ourselves.

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From: Michelle Villani

The Hands for Hamlet project is a great idea.

We are learning responsibility and showing a lot of careand love. At West Middle, we look forward to seeing how much we haveearned every day.

We put in our extra change at lunch not just because we do not want it, but because of how much we know it will bring pride and joy to the child's life.

When in school we come together as a committee, we always find new ideas for the child we care for. I hope more people bring in money and love for this child's Christmas.

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From: Nik Ziegler

Hi, my name is Nik and I am on Team Two at West Middle School, and we are helping the kids of Hamlet get the support and needs they need to live and that's why I write this letter.

It's now Nov. 19, almost December, which means it is close to Christmas, and the time to give. And that's why we are collecting money and giving a new life to the kid we are helping.

So, in gratitude, I thank Mayor Brown and the city of Westminster for starting this.

P.S. The person we are helping is Quinnard James.

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From: Andrea Allen

I enjoy the Hands for Hamlet program because we give money, food goods and gifts to a child whose mother was killed in the fire.

It just makes me feel good and everybody else feel good inside for what they did.

So I really enjoy the program that West Middle is doing.

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From: Lois E. Fegan

I am writing to you about the Hands to Hamlet program

I think it is a good idea to givegifts to children when parents are in trouble. I like helping other people, especially during the holidays. It makes me feel good to think about the smiles the children have when they open gifts from other kids their age.

P.S. My church is doing the Hands for Hamlet program, too!

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From: Chip Moledina

Stan Groves

Shawn Colleran

We are glad to be participating in the Hands for Hamlet project.

Michael Gagnon lost his father in a fire in Hamlet, N.C. We would like to help him. That's why we are participating in this project.

We hope to send Michael money and gifts to help keep his spirit up. Michael is 16 years old. He goes to school at Richmond Senior High School.

This project was presented to us by Mayor Benjamin Brown. Wehope what we are doing helps Michael through this difficult time in his life.

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From: Kim Klein

It wasn't long ago that a tragicfire struck a quaint town in North Carolina by the name of Hamlet. The fire started in a chicken plant. Many parents who had worked theredied, leaving behind painful memories and aching children.

Christmas was rolling by the corner and my school, West Middle, was asked to help out. Even though gifts could never replace the loss of a lovedone, the fact that people care to send a gift could ease the pain.

My particular team is taking care of a kid named Mike, age 16.

Iam greatly pleased to know my team (Team 9) was asked to make a difference, even if it is only for one person.

I think the world wouldbe a better place if everybody found self-satisfaction out of helping.

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From: Megan Garber

I think our Hands to Hamlet project is a great idea. I think the fire was terrible and I think that this project will help the kids cope with their loss.

I am an eighth-grader at West Middle. My school team and I have planned to raise moneyfor a Christmas gift and send it to our pen pal. A couple of students got together and wrote a letter to him requesting his interests or desires.

Our pen pal's name is Michael. He's 16 and his father died in the factory fire.

I was very happy when I heard that each West Middle team was reaching out to help one another. I'm sure other people feel the same as I do, that helping one another is what makes this world worth living for and makes this world be.

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From: JackDevilbiss

My name is Jack Devilbiss and I am a student at West Middle School.

We are raising money to help the kids who lost their parents in the fire that occurred in Hamlet, N.C. My team is raising money for a teen-ager named Michael.

I think that the Hands to Hamlet project is a great idea. We hope to make Christmas a little more cheerful for Michael.

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From: Kristi Simon

I am an eighth-grade student at West Middle School.

We are doing a project called "Hands to Hamlet" to help people in Hamlet, N.C., who have suffered from a fire in their town. Many people were killed.

We are raising money to help buy Christmas gifts for the children and teen-agers who lost a parent or a guardian in this tragedy.

It feels really good to know that you are helping people who really need it. These kids will have a nice Christmas even if they have lost a loved one. If this had happened to me, I would be grateful and would always remember that people had cared about me even when I needed cheering up.

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From: Netia Little

At Westminster West Middle School the students have been participating in a project called Hands to Hamlet.

We areraising money to buy Christmas gifts for the children of the Hamlet fire victims. The boy we are raising money for is Michael Gagnon, a 16-year-old from North Carolina. His father was killed in the fire.

We are all very enthusiastic about this project and are glad we havethe opportunity to make someone else's Christmas a little better. This is an enjoyable project because you get to help someone less fortunate and maybe even build a relationship with him.

So far, we havewritten a letter to his mother to tell her what we were doing, and the students of Team 9 are donating money to buy Michael presents. We are going to send him Christmas gifts as well as cards and letters tolet him know we're thinking about him.

We all are excited about getting to know Michael and giving him a happier Christmas. I know this will be a rewarding experience for all of us.

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From: MatthewCraig

I am an eighth-grader at West Middle School.

I feel thatthe "Hands on Hamlet" project is a wonderful cause to raise money for the children of the victims in the fatal factory fire. We will raise money to buy Christmas presents for a teen-ager, Michael, who lost his father in the accident in Hamlet, N.C.

Our goal is to raise asmuch money as we can, so we can help Michael have a Merry Christmas.

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From: Billy Steigerwald

I think the Hands to Hamlet program is a good idea because I like to make kids feel happy and forget what happened to them.

When I have problems, my friends make me feel better and I like to help people in return. It feels good inside when somebody smiles and you are the one who helped that person.

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From: Jason Fitzgerald

You're probably thinking, "Is this Hands for Hamlet thing just another stupid fund-raiser?"

Well, if you'rethinking that, you're wrong. Hands for Hamlet is a loving and caringway to help a child in their time of need by giving them a gift and a joyful feeling when they open that gift.

I think Hands for Hamlet is a great way to bring the spirit back into Christmas and it makesyour heart fill with joy to know you've helped someone when they hadno one else to turn to.

I hope that Hands for Hamlet will pull through and all the children that lost a parent will have the best Christmas ever.

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From: Jennifer Trumpler

I feel that it is important to help others when something happens

to one of their parents or a tragedy occurs. I think that if we help them, they may be ableto go on with their life.

If we help them then we would probably feel good about what we do to help others and they would appreciate it too. I feel good about helping others and I hope you do, too.

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From: Jason Reschau

I feel good about helping and caring for others. It makes me feel proud when I put a smile on someone's face or when someone opens a gift.

I think that is one of the best things in the world. But caring for someone is not just putting a smile on someone's face, it's being there when someone needs you the most.

Ilike to help others. That's why I am going to help those whose parents died in Hamlet.

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From: Clint Walker

I think Hands for Hamlet is a good idea.

I hope the program is successful because I like helping others and I also wish you good luck and lots of support because if my parents were killed in a fire I would be sad and I wouldlike support from kids my age and I would want a happy Christmas.

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From: Drew Solson

I think the Hands for Hamlet is a good idea.

If I lost my parents in a fire near Christmas time I would wantsome support. I wouldn't leave it up to my uncle to get me my Christmas gifts all by himself. I would want a good Christmas even without my parents, but I would not have much fun without my parents though.

It would be very hard to just be with your uncle for the rest of your life. I would not want to be with my uncle for the rest of my life. I'd rather live with my parents.

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From: Jackie Smith

I think the Hamlet project is a great idea.

The Hamlet project will probably make the unfortunate, fortunate. It will help her/him feel happy around Christmas time instead of unfortunate.

My team is helping out in two ways. The first one is that we are giving extra money in a container in the cafeteria. We also have one in our math room. Wealso are bringing in gifts and clothes to him.

I really think theHamlet project is a good idea.

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From: Missy Schmick

I wanted you to know that the Hands for Hamlet program is terrific. It willreally help the boy that we're trying to help.

It is important tonotice the people who are not as fortunate as us. Almost everyone ishelping out and chipping in. It is working out terrifically.

WhenI read the Hands for Hamlet letter I felt very sorry for the boy whowas in the letter, so my family and I have decided to help. I think it's not only important to help people out around the holidays, but all year round.

I hope now that Quinnard James, who we are helping out, has a wonderful Christmas with his uncle.

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From: Devon Jancuska

When my family and I received the Hands on Hamlet letter weall felt bad.

My parents and I have decided that we really want to help our adopted friend. Since we are so fortunate we won't mind giving up something that is a top priority on our Christmas list.

Soeach of us picked something that we really liked, but are giving it to our friend so he can have a good Christmas with his uncle.

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From: Alana O'Neill

For me, participating in Hands for Hamlet is going to be a worthwhile experience.

I haven't been in many charities. So now, it is my duty to help Team 7's friend in North Carolina,Claude.

I know what it feels like to lose someone and I wish I had people to care for me as people at West Middle are caring for Claude. Team 7 must care for Claude because the kids are already doing things for him.

When Claude opens his present, I wish I could see thelook on his face, so I can really appreciate what we're doing for him. I'm sure at the end, everyone will be really glad that they participated in Hands for Hamlet.

I hope in the process of helping Claude, kids on Team 7 will learn to voluntarily help others in need.