Students at Sprunica and Van Buren elementaries have raised nearly $1,000 for two local charities.

Sprunica students gathered $224 in cash and Purina pet food for the Brown County Humane Society, Principal Abbie Oliver said. Students who participated were able to wear pajamas to school Feb. 10.

The Brown County Humane Society was picked because students watched “The Secret Life of Pets” during the Sprunica PTO’s movie night Feb. 3.

Van Buren students have gathered $584 for Mother’s Cupboard community kitchen and will continue to raise money until Feb. 28.

The project is part of VBE’s One Book, One Cause project, a movement which started a couple years ago. Students read a book related to a specific need, then collect money to donate to that cause.

This year’s book is “The Can Man,” which is about a boy who earns enough money to buy the skateboard he really wants but instead gives it to a homeless man so he can buy a winter coat.

Elementary schools have been working on character education as well as academic lessons. Kindness is the core value Van Buren students have been focusing on this semester.

Do you have an achievement to celebrate or a kindness to point out? Tell us. Email [email protected] and put “Bright Spot” in the subject line.