(Editor's note: School districts in Jefferson and Harrison counties have taken part in raising funds for the United Way of Jefferson County for more than a decade, and the students' and staff members' spirit of caring about their communities continues each year, according to agency officials. The Herald-Star is featuring an area school district and its ongoing fundraising efforts each Monday.)

WINTERSVILLE - Members of the the Indian Creek Local School District know the importance of giving back to their community.

They've demonstrated this knowledge each year through their contributions to the United Way of Jefferson County, raising $62,799 in nine years.

This year, they led the county school districts in contributions again, raising $8,290.64 for the United Way of Jefferson County's 2009 Live United campaign.

"Indian Creek has been one of our lead school districts," said Patricia Fletcher, United Way schools' campaign chair. "They've been a real role model for young people being involved in community service."

Superintendent Jene Watkins contributes the district's fund-raising success to the amount of involvement received from the students and the faculty and focusing on the areas of the community that need service the most.

"Projects vary through each building, and they all come up with things that work," Watkins said. "One of our strengths is that we dedicated areas that need support and have continued to support those areas over time. We try to community base what we've done, and we've done very well over the years."

Watkins noted that although he's proud of the funds the district has raised in years past, his goal is to see the district raise $10,000.

"We've gotten to the point where the buildings and teachers understand that, in the fall, we put our efforts to the United Way. I think we'll reach that goal," Watkins said.

The $8,290.64 was a combined effort of all the buildings in the district, including $230 by the administrative office; $800 by Indian Creek High School; $730 by Indian Creek Junior High School; $1,603.89 by Hills Elementary School; and $1,845.25 by Wayne Elementary School.

Wintersville elementary, which combines the Buchanan building and the Bantam Ridge school, raised the most in the district with $3,081.50.

Sarah Hayes, a first-grade teacher at Wintersville Elementary and the school's United Way coordinator, said they pupils look forward to getting involved each year.

"The reason I like to help in the United Way is because it helps the kids realize that there are people out there just like them that they can help," Hayes said. "It teaches them that, no matter how young or old you are, they can help people in their own way."

Wintersville Elementary Principal Toni Dondzila noted the schools focus on raising funds for the United Way for an entire week each October.

"The highlight for this campaign was the last day when the teachers played the students in trench war," Dondzila said.

She noted trench war is a variation of dodge ball, where the teachers and pupils faced off across a "trench" and aimed to knock players from the opposing team out.

"The whole school bought a ticket, and they all watched the game," Dondzila said, adding names were drawn in each of eight games to choose participants. "Almost everyone got to play."

Dondzila added that another favorite project of the pupils' was taping the principal to the wall.

"The kids paid for an arm's length of tape and used it to stick me to the wall," Dondzila said. "They covered every inch of me. They really loved it."

Nancy Grim, executive director of the United Way, noted that each school district in Jefferson County has done their part to contribute to the campaign.

"I just want to say how grateful I am that the school system is taking a lead and teaching kids how important it is to take care of their community," Grim said. "This is a great thing, and hopefully the kids will remember this and years later will take an active role in their community. We're so fortunate in Jefferson County because we have so many schools working together to raise money in Jefferson County to be used in Jefferson County."

The United Way supports 21 area agencies. The goal was to raise $440,000 for the 2009 Live United campaign, which was surpassed.

(Sadler may be contacted at bsadler@heraldstaronline.com.)