Tiny Pins Raise Big Donations for Haiti

The kids in Hampton Bays Middle School are making a big difference by making and selling little pins. 

Since September, the students have been creating pins in the shape of tiny Haitian houses out of mat board and clay, in their art classes. Their art teacher, Kathy Dayton, has been spearheading this project, which is part of a national effort to help the people of Haiti in the wake of their earthquake recovery process.

"I heard about two art teachers in Florida, who got the idea to make these pins and sell them as a way for their students to make a difference in the lives of others," said Dayton.

"This led to other schools doing the Haiti Houses project and although these pins sell for only five dollars apiece, so far this project has raised $235,585 nationally, to help with food and shelter to the people of Haiti."

Dayton heard about these two art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Florida, during a convention she attended last year of the National Art Teachers Association, in Jericho.

"I decided to do the same thing in our school, at no cost to the district, since I wanted to make the pins out of recycled and donated materials and donate all the money to Haiti," she said.

Dayton said Material Resource Center donated the mat board, and a local artist donated the clay materials anonymously.

The paper houses are cut from the mat board and painted with magic markers or paint. They are then covered in a resin, which makes them strong and shiny. The clay Haiti Houses are made from clay and then baked in a kiln at the school.  Both have pins in them so they can be worn on clothing, hats or purses.

"I told my students that we're doing this to sell the pins, so we need to paint them with happy colors that appeal to women, who mostly buy them," said Dayton.

The pins are bright and cheerful, and some even have sparkles and glitter.

The Haiti pins are sold on recycled cardboard backing that says, "Haiti Houses" on them, along with the national website, HaitiHouses.org.

So far, the art students, ages 5-8, at the Hampton Bays Middle School, have sold close to $2,000 worth of pins.

"We make a new batch of pins every school quarter, so our next new batch will be made before the February break," Dayton said.

The Haiti Houses are selling in local stores, including Fandango Boutique in Hampton Bays, and at the Green Earth Café in Riverhead. The storeowners offered to help sell the pins to donate all the money to this worthwhile project.

"We are hoping to get our pins into more East End locations as this project grows," said Dayton. "If any of my students don't wish to sell their pins, they have the choice of keeping them and donating the five dollars instead."

Dayton said this project helps her students on several levels—to help a humanitarian cause and to learn about commerce and business.

Barbara Cascia, owner of Fandango Boutique, said she took 50 pins to sell and has almost sold out.

"They have been very popular with my customers—some of the women bought between five and ten at a time, so I'll no doubt need to order more very soon," she said. "These pins make a great stocking stuffer for the holidays, and look great on any clothes."

Steve Seigelwaks, owner of the Green Earth Café in Riverhead, said he thinks the pins are "beautiful" and that his customers will feel good about buying them.
"Our philosophy is that whatever we can do to help our fellow neighbors, this is an especially good time of the year to do it," he said. "In our store, we are also big supporters of the arts."
For more information, visit the website at HaitiHouses.org