MONROE - Need a Valentine’s gift for that special lady in your life?

Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts is selling heart earrings to raise money for Haiti earthquake victims. Proceeds go to the American Red Cross.

“A lot of people could die for starving and they need water and food,” fourth-grader Hailey Carelock said. “People who we love need homes and we might not know them, but we should really care about them.”

Carelock is one of 15 girls in Benton Heights’ Jagged Pearls group, a girls-only club that teaches self-esteem and self-respect.

It’s about “being young ladies when no one is looking.” club leader Renee Rogers said. Jagged Pearls, started last year for fourth-grade girls, plans several community service projects, including visits to the Humane Society and collecting items for nursing homes or the battered women’s shelter.

“We want our kids to be good citizens and to have a caring heart for others,” Principal Mike Harvey said, even across state boundaries. A project like Hearts for Haiti “teaches students ... about the compassion we need to have toward other countries.”

The fundraiser and others also gives students “a sense of social responsibility,” Superintendent Ed Davis said. “The world’s a small community now,” and people can easily connect with each other.

Davis has seen several schools reach out; those in Haiti are in need, he said, “and we can help them.”

Benton Heights teachers weave the Haiti disaster throughout the school’s curriculum, Harvey said, particularly in social studies.

“We are very careful in what images we share with children,” he said. “A lot of our teachers are parents first and teachers second,” and relay information with that in mind.

“I felt bad because a lot of children and adults lost their children and their family and their homes,” Carelock said.

Other children had the same reaction.

Rogers’ own two children — an 8-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl — constantly beg their mom to go to Haiti. Her son used his own money to buy a pair of earrings as a gift, and her daughter asks to send leftover food to Haiti after dinner.

“Kids want to get involved,” Rogers said. “This is a way that they’ll be able to do something and feel like they’re giving back.” The Jagged Pearls Club will assemble and gift wrap the earrings while other students spread the word about the fundraiser.

The Benton Heights PTA donated its own fundraiser money to pay for the supplies, about $1 per set of earrings, Rogers said.

Jagged Pearls’ initial goal was $1,000, but topped it by Thursday with $1,230.

To place an order, stop by or call Benton Heights at 704-296-3100 or e-mail Rogers at renee.rogers@ucps.k12.nc.us. Earrings are $5.

The fundraiser runs through Feb. 10.

OTHER SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS

- Sardis Elementary, Sun Valley middle and high are collecting items for Haiti victims through Saturday in preparation for a Samaritan’s Purse pickup. Donate items between 9 a.m. and noon Saturday at Sun Valley High. Accepted items include bottled water, nonperishable foods, hygiene items, building supplies and medical supplies.

For more information or a complete list of acceptable donations, call Sun Valley Middle PTO president Michelle Garrett at 704-999-0156.

- East Union Middle School’s C2J (Committed to Jesus) Club started Project Haiti to raise money for earthquake victims. Donations go to the American Red Cross. To donate, call East Union at 704-290-1540. The fundraiser runs through Feb. 5.

- Is your school raising money for Haiti? Contact Tiffany Lane at tlane@theej.com.