Students of Ferri Middle School wore hats of all shapes – from sombreros to berets, bear hats to coonskins, and sports hats of all kinds – in support of a veteran who recently had his tools stolen.
In a recent letter to the editor that appeared in the Providence Journal, 80-year-old veteran Joseph Santos of Pawtucket wrote that on Nov. 8 he was working in his yard and had tools stored by his Jeep in his front yard. While he worked in his backyard, someone took his tools. He wrote with the hopes that the tools would be returned.
“I was appalled when I read the letter, and so close to Veterans Day,” said Mary-Lou Northrop, a seventh-grade geography teacher at Ferri. “I decided something needed to be done.”
Northrup, a daughter and daughter-in-law of World War II veterans with a son serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, asked students at the school to wear a hat on Friday, Nov. 21 and make a $1 donation to help replace Joseph’s tools.
“Mrs. Northrup is very patriotic, and we try to instill those same values in our students,” said Ferri Principal Dennis Morrell, who was thrilled with the school’s results and the role Northrup played.
“The kids were excited to do this,” Northrup said. “Even those who didn’t participate by wearing a hat still made donations.”
As of Friday, more than $200 dollars had been raised, and a $40 Home Depot gift card was also donated. Students throughout Ferri had fun and got creative with their hat choices.
Contributions continue to come in daily, while Northrup located Joseph and plans to surprise him soon with the funds the students raised.
“The students and faculty here at Ferri truly believe in giving back to the community and helping those in need,” Northrup said. “I’m very proud of them.”
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