CLASS AIDS FAMILY AFTER FIRE LOSSES FATAL BLAZE SPURS RITZMAN THIRD-GRADERS TO ACTION

Akron Beacon Journal (OH)

Author: JEWELL CARDWELL

Unable to erase her unspeakable pain, a third-grade class at Akron's Ritzman Elementary School was determined to find a way to let Sandra Orantes-Cruz know how much they care.

On Tuesday they did just that. Quietly. Respectfully. Lovingly.

First a little background:

An Oct. 28 fire killed Orantes-Cruz's 5-year-old son Owen, injured two other sons and destroyed the family's rented Albrecht Avenue home.

Ron Ricketson, the mother's fiance, suffered burns on his feet trying to save the three boys.

Because they were members of the Ritzman school family, the third-graders were acutely aware of the loss.

And some of the students even knew Owen and his brothers Alejandro Orantes-Cruz, 8, and John Denton, 12.

Over the last couple of months, the determined crew from Kathy Devus' class has been working hard on this family's behalf.

''My students wrote a grant proposal for a community service project to our local Character Counts,'' Devus said as she opened the book on their extraordinary outreach.

The children not only won a $500 grant, but they also wrote letters to 30-some businesses framing the Ellet area of their former school building.

Ritzman students are being housed in the former McDonald's headquarters on West Market Street until their new building is completed.

Even so, Devus and her students didn't leave their concerns for the Orantes-Cruz family behind.

Twenty-six students, who were earlier squirming in their seats, sat quietly and at attention as Orantes-Cruz, her two sons and ''Grandma'' Sandy Ricketson dropped by for a special presentation.

A boy whose right leg and left arm were covered with green casts slowly moved to the front of the room to address them.

''We wanted to do something for you because you lost a family member in the house fire. We wanted to do something to cheer you up,'' 9-year-old Jeremy Nolan announced.

''So, we got money and a grant and bought all this stuff.''

''We felt sorry that you lost everything in the fire,'' 9-year-old Jaret Jones added.

''You help the community by caring for others,'' 9-year-old Brandon Robinson chimed in.

The businesses that came through to support the students' effort were Lembo's Italian restaurant, Quizno's Subs, Hoffman's ACE Hardware, Lube Stop, Giant Eagle in Springfield and Marc's (which donated $250).

Jeff Sterchi, also 9, summed it up well: ''When you help others you also help yourself.''

The children filled four large containers one each for Alejandro and John and one for their parents with all manner of gifts, gift certificates and letters they wrote.

A grateful and overwhelmed Orantes-Cruz was moved by the students' outreach.

''I would like to thank everyone at Ritzman,'' she said.

''But this means so much to me because it's coming from children. We are truly grateful.

''It's been a while, but it's still hard every day. But it's getting better knowing that so many care; especially Ritzman. . . . It doesn't take away the pain, but it really helps.''

Each family member also received a portable canvas folding chair.

Included in the packages were a DVD player, a family-size electric pancake griddle, an Ohio State blanket, clothes for the boys, toys and gift certificates to various stores and $250.

Merle Bennett-Buzzelli, representing Character Counts, applauded the students' effort.

''We loved that it was a whole class helping a family that belonged to the school. We interviewed the entire classroom. They were so prepared and really passionate about what they wanted to do,'' she said, explaining the reasoning that went into Character Counts' decision to award the grant.

Since Jan. 3, Character Counts has awarded three student-focused projects.

PTA President Annie Petras, who had earlier arranged a benefit spaghetti dinner to help the family, was on hand to support 9-year-old daughter Jenny, who is in Devus' class.

School Principal Larry Bender said he couldn't be prouder of the students. ''Awesome!'' was how he graded them.

An understandably proud Devus agreed, adding, ''My students thought of this themselves, and hopefully, are beginning to understand what it means to give back to the community to help those in need.''

I couldn't have said it any better myself.