RATHDRUM - Lakeland Junior High's Natural Helpers are making a difference at their school.

And beyond.

The group aimed at peer mediation for troubled students and suicide prevention decided to also have a positive impact on its community by raising funds for a Post Falls family whose child has had seven surgeries due to complications of being born prematurely, said eighth-grader and group member Kaylee Sherman.

"Our whole goal is to help the school and the community," Sherman said. "We wanted to reach out and help the family."

Sherman knows the family of Kalea Benjamin, who turns 1 on June 14.

She and fellow Natural Helpers held a Hat Day at the school in which students could wear hats for $1. They've held "High 5 Fridays" at school in which classmates and staff give high 5s to brighten spirits and make all students feel included.

On Tuesday, the group took their influence to another level, performing flash mob dances at the Hico 76 gas station near the school and Super 1 Foods.

During the dances, students performed funky moves, including member Noah Feuiser performing "the worm" on the ground.

The dances caught the attention of some customers who stopped in their tracks. Others peeked over curiously before continuing on with what they were doing. At the conclusion of the dances, students went around gathering donations with jars with a photo of Kalea.

Jeni Nelson, a teacher and an adviser for the club, said she believed the fundraising with the flash mobs was a great way to end the school year.

"I love the community element to this," she said.

Club members were derived from a schoolwide student survey at the start of the year that asked which students they would feel comfortable going to in a time of need.

Cherokee Gorton, a club adviser, said she was involved with Natural Helpers when she went to junior high.

"It's nice to see some clubs grow like we have," she said.