Panorama Middle School students have been participating in their first ever “Change Wars” fundraising competition this week as organized by the school’s Student Council.

Student Council Advisor Krista Gafkjen says the funds raised will go toward purchasing new school supplies that will then be sent with athletic director Erin Ambrose on her upcoming mission trip to Haiti.

“The Student Council wanted to do something for a local charity, and so we were kind of talking about the different ones and as a school we’ve done some other fundraisers for other charities… but then we went, ‘wait a minute, our own Mrs. Ambrose is going to Haiti’, so we just decided to piggy-back with her and help her out.”

Gafkjen says the goal of this week’s charitable competition is to raise $50, which she believes will purchase a “good amount” of supplies for the orphaned students that Ambrose is visiting next month.

The sixth through eighth grades are competing against each other in the fundraising campaign, with the winner receiving a popcorn party.  Any Panorama parents or area residents who would like to contribute to the fundraising effort can call the Middle School at 641-755-2317.