BRASHER FALLS -- Melissa Ramie and her fifth grade class at St. Lawrence Central School decided to adopt a first grade class in Texas after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey.

The project that began as a class project ultimately turned into a school- and community-wide initiative called “One Book, One Town, One Nation.”

Melissa Ramie, Alyssa Ashlaw, Katherine Forbes, and Michelle Rutledge’s fifth grade classes were matched with a first grade class in Houston with the goal of helping to provide supplies that will help the first graders get back on their feet.

The idea was so well received that the school is incorporating this event into its “One Book, One Town” initiative with its “30 Days of Wonder” event. All middle school students are reading the book “Wonder”, and throughout October are thinking about and performing acts of kindness within the school, community and nation.

According to Ramie this makes students think about how they can make a difference for others in need.

“This donation project gives the students the experience with helping out those who are struggling after a natural disaster,” she said in a news release. “Teaching them, in a very concrete way, how we can all come together as a community and lend a helping hand.”

The fifth grade classes and the Senior High Student Council are creating donation boxes that will be placed throughout the school to collect the supplies. Local families can send in supplies that can become part of the effort.

Some items to consider include school supplies, Kleenex, uniforms, children’s books, and notes of encouragement and support. The fifth grade class will sort through the donations and ship them at the end of October.

Those who make a donation will be included in a letter that will be included with the items, so the students in Houston will know just how many people are supporting them.

Items may be sent with any student to St. Lawrence Central School until Oct. 30.