HOSTS student donate fundraising proceeds to help friend in need

Every year the students in the HOSTS (Help One Student to Succeed) program have a fundraiser; it's usually half about the HOSTS program, and half about charity. But not this year.

Usually the children keep half the money they raise for HOSTS, for things that the school district doesn't pay for, while the other half is donated to a local charity, said HOSTS teacher Liz Driessen. But this year the students decided that one of the students at Brewster Elementary School needed that money.

"This year we decided we're going to give it all to Pedro," Driessen said. Fourth grader Pedro Vargas was in HOSTS last year and was supposed to come back this year. Pedro was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this fall and is undergoing treatment in Spokane. Normally about 15 kids participate in the fundraiser, Driessen said, but this year 32 kids sold candles to raise money. "It was something that was important to them," Driessen said.

The candles were delivered earlier this week, and the HOSTS students raised about $1,000 through candle sales, while the Brewster chapter of Kiwanis kicked in another $100. The $1,100 will be delivered to Pedro's family.