Clark Mayor Doug Bradley was left almost speechless by the recent actions of Sharpsville middle school and high school students.

After a deadly F-2 tornado last month devastated part of Clark and South Pymatuning Township, Sharpsville students and staff raised over $6,000 to help the victims.

With a $2,500 match from the Shenango Valley Foundation, students were able to present a $9,291 check to the Clark Tornado Disaster Relief Fund during an assembly Thursday at Sharpsville High School.

"I'm having trouble finding words," Bradley said. "It's just an outstanding performance on the part of these folks. It's double any donation we have received. To see the response of the students, the faculty ... it's very, very enlightening."

Bradley and South Pymatuning Supervisor Chairman Mike Nashtock were among the featured guests at the assembly. Also present were Wil White, president of the disaster relief fund committee; Larry Haynes, executive director of the Shenango Valley Foundation; Sharpsville Mayor Ken Robertson; Sharpsville Borough Manager Mike Wilson and Brian Nespor of First National Bank, Sharpsville, depository for the disaster relief fund.

A six-person committee was appointed earlier this month to oversee the fund, which was established to disburse money to those whose homes were damaged or lost in the tornado. As of Thursday, the fund's total was about $55,000.

The Teens that Care club at the high school and the Sharpsville Middle School Student Council raised part of the money through its yearly "Money War." The Students for Charity organization at the high school works with Teens that Care to obtain matching funds from the Shenango Valley Foundation.

Teens that Care has held the Money War for the last five years and usually raises money for Make a Difference Day in October. But this year, the fund-raiser almost didn't happen.

"This year we weren't sure we would have a Money War. We kept delaying it," said Maggie Pisarcik, representing Students for Charity.

But then on Nov. 10, the tornado hit, affecting many Sharpsville students and their families. The students, who usually raised money for people they didn't know, now had the opportunity to help out in their own backyards.

Not only did the students raise money through the Money War, they also received donations from faculty and staff members and the Midwestern Intermediate Unit in Grove City. Sharpsville students also assisted in the cleanup of the borough and the township last month.

"On behalf of Teens that Care and Students for Charity, we want to thank all the students and teachers for their hard work and dedication," Maggie said. "Without their hard work and dedication, we would not have this money to give to the tornado victims."

Borough and township representatives were grateful for the students' and staffs' generosity.

"I'm a little speechless from what I've seen here and what's happened ... I just want to say from deep down in my heart, thank you and God bless you," Bradley said.

"Nothing makes me more proud than to stand here today and thank you for your efforts in the Money War and the clean-up," said Nashtock. "We really appreciate everything you've done for us. Thank you so much."

White said he agreed.

"One of the reasons why I moved here (Clark) was because I wanted my daughter to go to school with and grow up with people like you," he told the students. "The generosity of the teachers and your parents makes our task (of distributing money) easier."

Sharpsville students were not the only young people who recently raised money for the tornado fund. On Sunday, Maysville Boy Scout Troop 99, Greenville, raised $1,439 in a Chinese auction at the Clark borough building. Scouts Bob Wilkins, Phillip Moore, James Miller and Mike Williams, under direction of Scoutmaster Steve Williams, went door-to-door to collect prizes for the auction.

"I thought that was just super," Bradley said. "These are just kids."

As the tornado fund continues to grow, borough officials are still waiting to hear about the status of two state Department of Community and Economic Development grants -- one for $30,000 and one for $100,000 -- they applied for. Bradley said he hopes to hear something by the end of this month.

Last week, South Pymatuning Township supervisors declared the tornado-damaged portion of the township as a redevelopment area to qualify for Community Development Block Grant money.

The affected areas have yet to see any federal or state disaster relief money.

The fund committee will begin to send out $100 checks to affected people today so they will have the money for Christmas, said Frank Nagy, treasurer of the fund committee. Anyone who feels they should receive a check but does not should contact either the Clark borough building at (724) 962-5821 or the South Pymatuning Township building at (724) 962-7856.