English teacher Anne McIntire hands out blue and yellow ribbon to her students Friday in support of Ukraine at Edward Little High School in Auburn. McIntire’s freshman homeroom raised $240 during a school-wide competition to help feed Ukrainian refugees. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Solana Coy underestimated her classmates.

Given the task of raising funds to help feed Ukrainian refugees, Coy aimed low.

“I honestly thought we would maybe raise $100,” said the freshman at Edward Little High School.

Coy pulled in two close friends to help. They raised over $1,000.

Coy, Serenity Mungin-Doyle and Tessa Hayashida planned, hung posters, raised awareness and created emails that were sent out to classrooms by science teacher Peter Marris.

“It was completely driven by the students,” said Marris.

And by cupcakes.

Edward Little High School freshmen Tessa Hayashida, from left, Solana Coy and Serenity Mungin-Doyle organized a competition between homerooms to raise money to help feed Ukrainian refugees. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Whichever homeroom raised the most donations for the World Central Kitchen would receive a cupcake party on the last day of school before spring break.

“My mom is Ukrainian, and she really wanted to help out,” said freshman Terrence Gove, the school’s top fundraiser for the event.

“We have family and friends on both sides (Ukraine and Russia) so we don’t talk about the war much because it stresses my mom out,” said Gove.

Some students are paying attention to the conflict, said English teacher Anne McIntire.

“Holding events like this makes kids more aware of what is happening and why it is important to stand with the Ukraine,” McIntire said.

McIntire told her freshman class that she would match the donations that they brought in. “I wrote a check for $120,” she said.

McIntire’s freshmen raised the most and landed a box of homemade cupcakes from Lewiston bakery “My Sweet Indulgence.”

“Even if you’re only helping in a small way, it makes you feel good,” said Hayashida.