HUNTERSVILLE – The North Mecklenburg Women’s Club donated $975 to Blythe Elementary School’s fifth grade to help pay for the class field trip to Grandfather Mountain in the spring.

“We wouldn’t be able to go on this trip if it wasn’t for them,” Blythe fifth-grade teacher Julie Leer said.

Leer wrote a letter to the club last week on behalf of the Blythe fifth- grade team explaining that some of the families are unable to pay for the field trip. The cost is $60 per student, and goes toward payment for the charter busses and admissions fees. The trip costs about $8,500 total.

The club’s education department director, Denise Linerode, knew the education budget was tight, so she presented the school’s cause to the rest of the club members. She read Leer’s letter at the women’s club meetings Tuesday night and Wednesday, and club members donated money from their own pockets. “Everyone just started throwing money in the pot,” Linerode said.

The Tuesday night group donated almost $200 – enough to sponsor three fifth-grade students, and the Wednesday group donated enough to cover 12 more, exceeding the $900 Leer requested in her letter.

“Everyone is adamant that a child is not going to be unable to do something if we can help,” Linerode said.