Students at Franklin Elementary School know the importance of helping others.

That's why on Tuesday morning, the school body presented Megan Pildis, major gifts associate for the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, with a check for $2,199.During the presentation, Nan Cressley, computer professional at the school, commended the students on an excellent job. The students raised the money through a collection campaign.Cressley said that 300 new iced tea cartons were donated by Zimmerman's Dairy of Lehighton for the collection. Each student received a carton, which they took home and filled with change and dollars. The cartons were then returned to the school and counted.Pildis thanked the students and explained that the money they raised will help families in New Jersey and New York who lost everything during Superstorm Sandy in October."Thank you for your generosity," she said, adding that it will help around 100 families obtain clean-up kits, which cost the Red Cross $20 each.To date, Pildis explained that the American Red Cross has been able to provide food, shelter, relief supplies and comfort to thousands affected by the storm.Over the last few months, the organization has served over 8.4 million meals and snacks, handed out more than 6.3 million relief items, and provided over 80,000 shelter stays for families."We are working with communities to determine unmet needs and how the Red Cross can meet those needs," Pildis added.