During the past three years, Franklin Elementary has helped one student, fifth grader Mason Gordon and his family, through a program called “Sparrow Club.” Mason was diagnosed with juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (brain cancer) in June 2012.

The Sparrow Club, a group of students and two teachers at Franklin, hold fundraisers to raise funds called “seed money.” Then, for each hour students spend volunteering, they turn in a voucher to release $10 of the seed money to Mason’s family. So far this year, the Sparrow Club have set up opportunities to volunteer in the community and around the school. Not only can students at Franklin help Mason and his family by volunteering their time, but any student wanting to help collect volunteer hours or money can as well.

On March 29, Franklin students spent three hours at Kirkland’s Hopelink for the second time this year. They stocked shelves, filled rice bags and sorted food. For each hour they worked, $10 of “seed money” was released to a fellow student’s family.

The purpose of Sparrow Club is to help the child and family in need, but it also focuses on kids learning the power of what they can do for others – kids helping kids. For more information about the Sparrow Club and Sparrow Mason, please visit the Sparrow Club page of the Franklin website.