Gardnerville boy to donate college fund to tsunami victims

When he was a baby, Will Lockett's parents started a penny collection as seed money for his college fund.

Over the years, family and friends - and eventually, Will - filled a giant bottle with pennies and two 3-pound coffee cans.

The devastation of the Dec. 26 tsunami in south Asia prompted the 11-year-old boy to make a decision.

"I decided the kids that the tsunami affected needed the money more than I did," said the Gardnerville Elementary School sixth-grader.

One of Will's Christmas presents was a computer. While online, he came up with the idea to join children all over the world to help the victims of the deadly waves.

So far, more than 150,000 people have died, a third of them children.

"I've heard on the news that mothers and fathers were looking around for their children," he said. "It was pretty devastating."

Accompanied by his parents, Pamela and Don Lockett, Will took the pennies to Carson Valley Inn on Saturday and exchanged the coins for $175.32.

The pennies weighed 102 pounds, almost as much as Will.

He and his parents haven't decided where to send the donation.

"We want to make sure it gets to the right people," Don Lockett said. "We want to make sure it's 100 percent to the people. We're still researching it."

Millions of people have been injured or displaced and authorities estimate it will take years and billions of dollars for the countries to rebuild.

Pamela Lockett said her son was pleased with the total and never thought about changing his mind.

"That's a lot of money to a little boy, but he is totally committed to the donation," she said.

Will said he will continue donating pennies to tsunami relief; the college fund can wait.

"He will be saving as long as it's needed," his mother said.

He said he would encourage other children to contribute.

"You really can do something," Will said. "It's your chance to do something for them. I just wanted to help."

YOU CAN HELP

Carson Valley residents have several options to donate locally for tsunami relief:

• Minden Elementary School coin drive, through Jan. 19. Donations may be brought to the school, 1170 Baler St., Minden. Information, 782-5510

• Sierra Tsunami Relief Drive, P.O. Box 1344, Minden, NV, 89423. Donations will be sent to the Red Cross, Concern Worldwide and Samaritan's Purse. Information, e-mail sierratsunamirelief@hotmail.com.

• St. Gall Catholic Church relief drive, through January. Donations may be brought to the church, 1343 Centerville, Lane, Gardnerville. Checks may be made to St. Gall Catholic Church "tsunami relief." Information, 782-2852.