When communities across Alaska face hardship, it’s often the youngest Alaskans who remind us what generosity and compassion truly look like. This fall, students at Turnagain Elementary School proved just that through a creative and heartfelt fundraiser to support the American Red Cross response to the Western Alaska storms.

In the wake of the devastating coastal storms that impacted communities along Alaska’s western coastline, Turnagain Elementary’s student council wanted to help.

“We wanted to support Western Alaska. We all thought about helping at Red Cross because we all knew that the flood was hurting people in the community and we wanted to help,” said one student in the council.

So, they launched a school‑wide fundraiser with a fun twist: “Feed the Snake.”

Here’s how it worked: Students could “feed” a paper snake by purchasing paper “food” pieces. Each piece of food represented a donation, and with every contribution, the snake grew longer—curling, looping, and eventually wrapping around the school’s lunchroom like a cheerful banner of generosity.

Teachers and students alike shared in the excitement each day as the snake grew. Classrooms cheered as their contributions added entire new sections, with the added bonus of the classroom with the most donations getting a donut party.

“I think teaching kids philanthropy is important because it shows them to speak up for what they believe in and it is giving that leadership practice,” said Ashton White, a teacher at Turnagain elementary School and co-sponsor of the student council.

Turnagain Elementary’s student council led the project from start to finish— choosing a worthy cause, planning the activity, rallying their classmates, and sharing updates as the snake grew. Their leadership showed how students can inspire an entire school community to come together for a shared cause.

One student council member said, “We want to help other people because we know that is something we need to do when we are older so why not start now.”

Their donation incredible donation of more than $500 helps the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emergency supplies, relief kits, and recovery support to families working to rebuild their lives. Every dollar they raised contributes directly to restoring hope after disaster.