Pennsylvania teacher uses TikTok and GoFundMe to rescue canceled field trip
By Baylee Martin
Click here for updates on this story
LANCASTER, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — Tania Turner, an eighth-grade language and literature teacher at Wheatland Middle School in Lancaster, used social media to raise funds for a canceled field trip to Hersheypark due to a $10 million budget deficit at the School District of Lancaster.
Turner said, “My whole goal is to make an impact in any way that I know how. Yes, English and reading and writing is so important, but also the experience of being a student is super important too.”
The news of the cancellation was a shock to Turner and her students.
“I just could not let it go,” Turner said.
Taking matters into their own hands
Determined to make the trip happen, Turner created a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $8,000.
“In two and a half days, we got the $8,000,” Turner said. “And right now we’re at over that $9,075, I think.”
Tania posted a TikTok on her page, which has over 11,000 followers. It gained attention and now has over 20,000 views.
Turner’s efforts were supported by her students, including Zoe Trottie, who helped spread the word through TikTok videos on an account she created dedicated to the fundraiser called eighthgradehershey.
“I thought it would be a good idea since we’re trying to raise enough money to go to Hersheypark if we made a video every day trying to advertise the GoFundMe,” Trottie said.
The videos received significant attention, with the first video garnering 15,900 views, the second 6,400 views, and the last update receiving 2,792 views.
Initiative turns emotional
Turner was moved by her students’ initiative.
“When one of my girls showed me the video, I cried because it was just really amazing to see them come together and work towards something that is totally achievable,” she said.
With the funds raised, the tickets are now bought, and the trip is set.
Trottie shared her excitement, saying, “My favorite ride is either the Fahrenheit or Candymonium.”
Despite her fear of heights, Turner is ready to join her students on the roller coasters.
“I’m a little scared of heights a little bit, but they say, Miss Turner, please, this is our last year. And then I’m like, OK, fine. And then I’m like, close to tears on the roller coasters,” she said.
Community impact
Turner emphasized the importance of community impact and the future of her students.
“We can do things that are positive for the community, and also that can make an impact on the kids because they’re our future,” she said.
Trottie added, “I learned that one person can make a big impact on everything.”
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.