MOSES LAKE - Frontier Middle School is "about helping people," and that is just what student Devin Deitrick thought when he learned of the tragedy in Oso.

"I was watching the news and seen people that died and I said, 'I have to do something,'" Deitrick said.

Deitrick, 14, is in a seventh-grade leadership class at Frontier, where they learn to organize fundraisers to help people, he said.

Under his teacher, Dana Santos' guidance, Deitrick decided to hold a Slide Relief Dance Fundraiser for his classmates to raise money to donate to Snohomish County Search and Rescue and those affected by the landslide.

"I had never hosted a fundraiser, and it came out pretty good," he said. Although he was nervous at first, more of Deitrick's friends came than he could count. His efforts raised $1,050 and donations of clothing, food, water and other necessities.

Deitrick plans to hand what he has collected directly into the hands of the search and rescue team and the displaced. He wants to travel to Snohomish County next week, the same day as President Barack Obama plans to be there. It's because Deitrick wants to meet the president.

He decided to push back his trip a week when he heard the president was coming and wanted to meet people who were helping those affected.

He has a powerful message to share with the president, and his neighbors in the Basin.

"I would like to say that it's always good to help the community out, because helping the community makes it a better place for everyone. And with all the violence in the neighborhood, it (helping) makes Moses Lake a good place to live."

If you would like to help Deitrick and those from Oso, drop off donations at Frontier Middle School at 517 West Third Ave. by 3 p.m. Monday. Deitrick and the President will be traveling Tuesday.

Today Santos' leadership class will "Be silent for the people who cannot be heard," and spend 24 hours in silence.