BY NATASHA ASHE
SALISBURY POST

East Rowan schools have done their part to raise money for the YMCA capital campaign in that part of the county.

Erwin Middle School paved the way with its ‘‘Building the Y, one brick at a time’’ campaign. For $1, students can buy a paper brick with their names that goes in the collection displayed in a ‘‘brickyard’’ on school hallways.

Since the brick sale started, Erwin Middle and Granite Quarry, Faith, Morgan and Rockwell elementary schools – which raised the most – have contributed more than $7,000 to the YMCA fund. So far, Rockwell Elementary has raised the most, officials said, and East Rowan High School also plans to participate.

Schools have also sponsored individual fund-raisers. The East Rowan High swim team held a bake and hot dog sale.

Erwin Middle sponsored a dinner and limousine ride to a school dance to raise money and last Friday organized a ‘‘Fun Night’’ that included several activities like floor hockey, basketball, carnival games, a moonwalk and a climbing tower for students.

Some school campaign officials say allowing the schools to raise money toward building the East YMCA touches everybody and gets everyone involved.

‘‘That’s a good grass-roots level,’’ said Jeannie Misenheimer, vice-chair of the school division in the campaign cabinet. ‘‘If you have the kids, teachers and parents involved, then you’ve got the community involved.’’

Misenheimer said most of the schools reached 100 percent of their goals, because at least one brick was sold to every student, ‘‘which I thought was great,’’ she added.

The community is also getting involved in the campaign. The Liberty Volunteer Fire Department sponsored a chicken-and-dumpling dinner, Ursinus United Church of Christ hosted a pancake dinner and several barbecue and prime rib dinners have been sponsored – all for East Y.

YMCA supporters:

- Are now offering a raffle for two basketballs, one autographed by the North Carolina Tar Heels and one by the Duke Blue Devils basketball teams. The drawing will be held Saturday, April 17, at Nazareth’s Children’s Home during one of the campaign rallies sponsored every two weeks on Saturday mornings.

- Will soon make available a cookbook with favorite recipes from eastern Rowan children and teachers, Misenheimer said.

- Will sponsor a prime rib dinner on April 16 at the Nazareth Children’s Home gymnasium and a night golf tournament on Friday, May 14. The YMCA Board of Managers is sponsoring those events, and Nazareth Children’s Home is helping with the dinner.

Misenheimer said each fund-raiser is essential because it means eastern Rowan residents are one step closer to having a YMCA, a facility that can benefit everyone in the community.

‘‘The Y offers programs for everybody at every age. They offer programs to give a healthy and safe environment for children and provide learning, good sportsmanship and manners,’’ Misenheimer said. ‘‘It’s a place where children who may not otherwise get the nurturing find it, because the Y is a place that provides that and they have excellent role models. It’s for everybody, not just children.’’