Woo-hoo! Sierra! Sophie! Juliette! Isobel! Ally! Asha!

SooToday.com has received the e-mail below and accompanying photos of some remarkable young Saultbies from the local branch of the Canadian Red Cross.

We've also included a news release from the Sault Family YMCA.

************************* I have attached a couple of photos of children who have come to donate to the Red Cross Haiti Appeal. Sierra King [above] was at the Greyhound Game.

She had heard that the Canadian Red Cross would be taking donations and asked her mom, Mary, if she could donate her savings - she emptied her piggy bank and donated all $15.43. Sophie (age 2 1/2) and Juliette (age 5) Lamour [gallery photo] have three piggy banks at home.

One is for sharing, one is for giving (at Christmas time they buy a gift for someone less fortunate), and one is for saving (for themselves).

They decided that since we were going to be at the game, they should bring their share pig and donate it to the Red Cross.

The share bank contained $61.38. Isobel (8) and Ally (6) Farstead and their neighbour Asha Leahy (6) [gallery photo] had a hot chocolate sale on Saturday, January 9 and raised $600.

People responded extremely well to their sale - one person even paid $40 for a cup of hot chocolate!

The sale went so well they had another one this weekend and raised another $37.50. The fans of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds donated a total of $5,787 at Friday and Saturday nights games - the Greyhounds have pledged to match $5,000 of that! To date - the Canadian Red Cross Sault Ste. Marie and District Branch has collected $108,192 in donations for the Haiti appeal. We continue to accept donations at our office at 105 Allard Street from 8:30 - 4:30 Monday to Friday.

Donations can also be made online or by calling 1-800-416-1111.

Additionally, people can text RECROSS to 30333 and a one-time $5 donation for the Haiti earthquake fund will be added to their mobile phone bill. Thank you Sault Ste. Marie and area for your generous contributions! - Diane Lajambe, District Branch Manager, Canadian Red Cross Sault Ste. Marie and District Branch

************************* Hearts for Haiti

Sault Ste. Marie Family YMCA lends a hand in raising funds for Haiti

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (January 25, 2010) - With the news of the devastation that the people of Haiti have been enduring since the earthquake struck about two weeks ago, many people and organizations around the globe have wanted to do something to help.

The Sault Ste. Marie Family YMCA is no different; Hearts for Haiti is the local YMCA’s way of assisting.

“We have teamed up with the Sault Ste Marie and District Branch of the Canadian Red Cross to help in raising funds for the Haiti Earthquake Relief,” says Wayne Greco, president of the Sault Family YMCA Board of Directors. “Hearts for Haiti gives our YMCA members, visitors, volunteers and staff a chance to make a donation for the people of Haiti who have experienced such grave devastation. Although we are a charity ourselves, the Sault Family YMCA feels that this is a very important cause to be involved in.”

Hearts for Haiti is a fund-raising effort which will cost individuals as little as $2 each.

With your $2 donation, you will receive a Hearts for Haiti card which you can write your name or the name of a friend or family member on.

These cards will be decorating the YMCA front lobby for the next few weeks, so please join the Sault Family YMCA and show your support for the people of Haiti by purchasing a Heart for Haiti today.

Donations of larger than $2 will also be accepted.

A charitable receipt can be requested for donations over $10.

*************************