Salcha Elementary School hosts fundraiser called “Cents for Sims”

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Russia-Ukraine war is in its fourth month, and students from Salcha Elementary want to do their part to help. Salcha Elementary School hosted a fundraiser in response to the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to, Lucas McGrain, a Salcha Elementary School 6th grader, this fundraiser reflects the communities remote kindness.

“We’re not that big of a school,” McGrain said, “so we kinda wanted to do something big - like not just our community but like all around the world - and then we’ve been watching the news and everything that is going on. So we thought we can help Ukraine because once they cross the border they can’t talk to their families cause their sim cards don’t work, so we want to help them talk to their families again.”

Students are raising money to send to Annie Keep-Barnes, a former principal at Salcha who is currently living in Romania. The plan is for Keep-Barnes to buy phone cards that she can hand out to refugees from Ukraine who need to contact family. Without including donations to the Mt. McKinley Bank and a couple of other local businesses, the school has collected $963.07. Staff members estimate over $1,000 which would help 136 families.

Those who are interested in donating can visit Salcha Elementary School or donate through Mt. McKinley Bank. More information can be found on Salcha Elementary School’s website.

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