Brandon Twp.-Neither snow nor cold nor even her birthday can deter Brandon High School junior Ashley Mankosa from her goal of collecting money to help victims of the tsunami.
On New Year’s Eve, just days after the Dec. 26 disaster that claimed more than 225,000 lives and left thousands more injured and homeless in Asia, Mankosa struck upon the idea of walking door-to-door to collect funds for the tsunami relief effort. On Jan. 2, her 17th birthday, the teen began walking to neighbors? homes in the Woodland Pines subdivision, collecting cash or checks made out to the Red Cross.
To date, she has collected about $300 from 35 of the 40 homes in her subdivision. She said most people have been supportive, telling her it’s a good cause. The main problem she has faced is that many people have already donated, but she won’t let that stop her. She wants to reach $1,000 in funds collected.
‘These people need help and by me going door-to-door, I hope to accomplish the goal of sending relief to the victims of the tsunami,? said Mankosa, who has received an offer from two local insurance companies to each match 50 percent of her earnings.
Mankosa, who recently finished final exams and works at Michael’s Arts and Crafts store in Auburn Hills has spent three hours so far walking in frigid temperatures, sometimes as low as 8 degrees. She expects that in the next two weeks she will log several more hours totalling 10-15, as she collects in the village of Ortonville, as well as subdivisions in Groveland and Brandon townships. A National Honors Society member, Mankosa will use this time to count toward the 25 hours of community service that is required of NHS members yearly.
In addition to going door-to-door, Mankosa has placed a donation canister at The Filling Station Cafe, 39 Ortonville Road. She is also the spirit leader for a two-week campaign at Brandon High School run by the Student Council and National Honor Society. The campaign has placed four canisters, one for each grade, in the cafeteria. Mankosa said students can put money in the canisters. The money will go to help build homes in tsunami-stricken areas. As an additional motivator, whichever grade raises the most money will get spirit points. At the end of the year, the grade with the most spirit points gets a field trip.