A junior at the school is selling mochi to students and faculty in an effort to raise money for Haiti.

For the past month, junior Antonio Wolffenbuttel has been making and selling mochi, Japanese rice cake made of pounded glutinous rice and bean paste, to his friends and teachers at a price of three mochis for a dollar. He has also accepted donations of greater amounts. “I had some people come up to me who just wanted to give me $5 to donate,” Wolffenbuttel said.

Wolffenbuttel has raised much more money than he expected he would. “I didn’t know I was going to sell this many mochis,” Wolffenbuttel said. “I surprised my mom too with all the money I brought home.”

Wolffenbuttel intends to donate the money to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), a large organization that has already made massive donations to the popular cause. “My mom will use her debit card to donate the money I make to UNICEF,” Wolffenbuttel said. “I was talking to my reg teacher, and got the idea that it would be easier to donate that way rather than put in individual money orders at the office.”

Wolffenbuttel has garnered much support and praise from students for his fundraiser. “I think it's cool that he is doing something like this to help the cause,” junior Eva Chung said. Many students said they were more inclined to buy the mochi for the good cause. “I think Antonio's idea is amazing,” senior Peter Zhu said. “He's spending his own money to buy supplies for mochi, and then he gives all the proceeds to people in need.”

Other students said they bought the mochi for its scrumptious taste in addition to its good cause. “It was delicious!” senior Eileen Kyaung said. “Antonio makes really good mochis.” Students have not only helped support his efforts in buying the mochi, but some have helped him make them too. “Most of my friends and customers think it's just cool of what I am doing,” Wolffenbuttel said. “Three of my friends came to my house to help me make two hundred mochis.”

Wolffenbuttel got the idea of selling mochi before the earthquakes struck in Haiti. “I love mochi, and I learned to make them from this recipe online,” Wolffenbuttel said. “My friends and I really liked what I made, so I wanted to sell it. When the earthquake happened, I decided to sell it for the cause.”