In order to validate the class's efforts with the school's administration board, the principal requested that Mr. Hall's students supply reasons why cash should be collected instead of items such as clothing or food. After conducting a little bit of research and speaking with one another, the class presented the following explanations to the school principal in support of collecting monetary donations for Hurricane Jeanne and Ivan victims in Haiti:
 

-	Haiti does not have a Federal Emergency Management Agency to rely on when a disaster occurs;
-	The majority of Haiti's citizens have no insurance (e.g. many have no health, emergency, or home coverage);
-	Haiti has a relatively poor economy and is not able to provide needed assistance to each person or family impacted by the hurricanes;
-	The annual salary of a person from Haiti is $400;
-	Many of Haiti's citizens have died from primary and secondary hurricane effects;
-	Floridians are receiving clothing and food from United States citizens affected by the same hurricanes which impacted Haiti;
-	Both storms destroyed 90% of the homes in Haiti;
-	Many of Haiti's citizens are homeless and drinking disease infested water because their home and sewage systems were damaged;
-	Flooding has caused damage to major infrastructures in-country;
-	Providing cash is an excellent and quick way to show compassion to disaster victims; and
-	Citizens of Haiti need money to buy relief supplies and building materials locally; the last thing disaster victims need are old shoes and tattered articles of clothing!

Students were commended by the principal for the responses. Suzanne Brooks, Director of the Center for International Disaster Information commented "I am incredibly impressed with what Mr. Hall's class has done. These young people did their homework, did the research, to come up with the right answer. They set an example for others, not only in elementary school – but much, much older as well! Mr. Hall's class activity is the perfect example of how things should be done."

Mr. Hall's class set out on their mission to collect cash assistance by placing large donations jars in thirty-two businesses around the Cheboygan area, asking for cash donations. Each jar was brightly decorated and accompanied by a sign explaining the reason money was being raised. Businesses placed the jars in storefronts, break rooms, and at cash registers to raise money for hurricane victims of Haiti; and incredibly, within a two-week period, $1,000 was collected.

The fifth grade class contacted CIDI to seek guidance on an organization to donate the funds gathered. CIDI provided them with a list of InterAction member agencies responding to the situation in Haiti. InterAction is an umbrella agency for many of the world's most experienced and recognized relief and development agencies based in the United States. After careful research and much discussion, the class agreed to send the money to two organizations, Food for the Hungry and Save the Children. Both organizations were contacted by the students who took the initiative to discuss with each agency how the money would be spent. After specifying that the money was to be spent on children and schools, a check for $500 was mailed to each organization!

Bravo to Mr. Hall's and his students for their accomplishments. They not only raised money to provide assistance in the quickest possible way, but also educated their fellow classmates, teachers, and the local community on the appropriateness of cash donations for victims of an international disaster and why Cash is Best!