BY LORI HAMMELMAN
Staff Writer

ROCHELLE — St. Paul Lutheran School students are lending a helping hand to a family over a thousand miles away.
The students hosted a lemonade stand and bake sale Thursday to raise money for a family of four who lost their home and business as a result of the hurricane to hit the Texas area.

The Rivera family in Houston is one of many who have lost their homes after the devastation from Hurricane Harvey. After Rochelle resident Jaime Haedt heard about the Riveras’ loss from their cousin who lives in Austin, both Haedt and her sister Trisha Rodeghero knew this would be a great opportunity for the students in giving.

“My sister Jaime lost everything in the Rochelle tornado, and we saw what the community did for our family. Now we are able to give back,” Rodeghero said. “We have a connection to the Riveras with our family.”
Rodeghero said not only did Greg and Miranda Rivera, along with their two boys Gideon and Ferdinand have to evacuate their home, but also a coffee shop they recently opened has been damaged. The family is now faced with the challenge of rebuilding.
The students in the preschool through eighth grade took turns all day Thursday tending to the lemonade stand. During the months of September and October, every Wednesday the students will be donating monies they receive from offerings during chapel services.

Knowing people are donating money and supplies from all over the country, Rodeghero says there is a reason they want to donate to the Riveras.
“We thought it was a good idea to donate to them specifically. Not only can we help, but we will keep in contact with the Riveras so the kids can see where their efforts are going,” Rodeghero said. “We will watch as this family rebuilds and see what they did with the kids’ help.”
Rodeghero said they plan to Skype with the Houston family during the rebuilding process.