It may be nickels and dimes instead of tens and twenties, but youths in Moffat County are chipping in to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Even preschool-aged children are participating.

“They’re enthusiastic about knowing they’re going to help little kids,” said Sondra Duarte, a teacher at Rocky Mountain Headstart.

The 34 Headstart students are collecting change and books to send to children on the Gulf Coast. The idea was theirs, Duarte said.

The students don’t understand what a hurricane is, she said, so teachers talked about the effects — the loss of homes and possessions.

“The kids were like, ‘Ahh, they don’t have their books’ and ‘Ahh, they don’t have their toys,'” Duarte said. “It was sad for them, but they’re exited they’re able to help.”

One student brought in a purse full of change and allowed other students to help her put it into the box.

“They’re doing a really good job,” Duarte said.

The money and books will be donated to the Red Cross at the end of the month.

At Moffat County High School, Jeff Simon’s health classes wanted to know what they could do and came up with several fundraising ideas. They’ve raised $375 by selling bracelets and sponsoring a drawing in which 50 percent of the proceeds went to the winner, and 50 percent went to hurricane victims.

Simon said the goal is to raise at least $1,000 more by hosting a dance Friday. The dance will be from 9 p.m. to midnight. Revenues from the door charge, beverage sales and prize drawings will be donated to the Red Cross, though Simon is hoping it will be used to help families who have fled the Gulf Coast to Moffat County.

“The students were the ones who wanted to get the ball rolling,” Simon said. “They wanted to raise as much as possible.”

Students at Craig Middle School are collecting quarters for hurricane relief efforts.

Kindergarten through fourth-grade students at East Ele–mentary School have finished their contribution. The final total of spare change collected at school and in buckets across town was $1,400. City Market offered to match what students collected, bringing the total to $2,800.

“These kids were just great,” East Elementary School Principal Diana Cook said.

Students also made posters, including one that was titled “Your change can change a life.”