Teacher Mike Wofford puckered up and leaned in to kiss a pig last Friday.

The “oohs” and “ahhs” filled the school gym: students laughed, teachers cringed.

But it was for a good cause.

Students and faculty at Fairmount Elementary School selected Wofford, after he helped raise approximately $200 to help Haiti victims by agreeing to be a participant. He was picked from a pool of 27 teachers and faculty to kiss the pig during last week’s Haiti relief fundraiser, called “Hee Haw” day.

Carrie Thompson, of one the many organizers of the fundraiser, “Change for a Change,” said the students and staff have pulled together in the past holding raffles and lunches for community members in need, but that this was the school’s first international cause.

“Fairmount Elementary has once again proven itself to be the small school with the big heart,” Thompson said. “We were able to raise $1,400 for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.”

Proceeds will benefit Samaritan’s Purse.

“Change for a Change” was a weeklong, 25-cent donation fundraiser that included fun activities, where students could vote for a teacher or facility member to kiss a pig and dress up in pajamas or bring a toy to school during the themed day of the week.

“Given the immediate need for food relief and a whole list of other needs in Haiti, paired with our own American economy, we asked students and facility to give what they can,” explained Thompson.

The idea of collecting quarters for a week was to help show students that a person’s loose pocked change can add up, and can eventually make dollars-worth of difference, said Thompson.

“We want to thank a kind man, who asked to remain nameless, for his shoebox of quarters,” Thompson said. “He saw the need and he responded with such grace and humility.”

“Finally, thanks to all of those who participated in the earthquake relief fundraiser and who gave of their loose change,” she added.

Fairmount also would like to thank Wesley Crook of Fairmount for the tiny potbelly pig.

“’Change to make a Change’ demonstrated the giving hearts of our Fairmount Elementary School and our entire community,” Thompson said.