"I watched the news reports but eventually became so frustrated that I decided to turn off the TV and channel my frustrations into doing something productive," said Bagalot, who lived in Asia and still has friends residing there.

What she decided to do was mobilize a group of women, all members of the Rivermark Mom's Club, to organize a bake sale and help raise money for the tsunami victims.

"I spoke with a number of mothers in the group and they all felt as frustrated as me," said Bagalot, the founder and president of the Mom's Club.

One of those woman was Alissa DuBrow Meltzer, second-grade teacher at Schallenberger Elementary School in Willow Glen.

"I sent an email to everyone at work asking them to donate money or baked goods for the sale," Meltzer said.

In addition to individual donations, the teachers opted to donate the monies left over from the funds they collected during Schallenberger's staff holiday party. The school staff also decided to donate a portion of its sunshine/social committee dues.

The committee collects money at the beginning of each year and typically uses the fund for good deeds such as donations for a death in a staff member's family or gifts for departing administrators.

"All in all, we donated over $150 for the relief fund," Meltzer said.

While Meltzer was impressed with the generosity of her co-workers, she said she was stunned by the generosity of the people who came to donate at the bake sale, which was held during lunchtime on Jan. 4 through Jan. 6 outside Premier Pizza in the Rivermark Plaza in Santa Clara. Fantasia Cafe and McDonalds also participated in the fundraiser.

"This little shopping center is near many large corporations, so people came by on their lunch hour and bought baked goods and many dropped $20 bills in the jar," Meltzer said. "One person came up and wrote out a check for $500. All in all we raised $5,600, which is pretty awesome."

Meltzer said she believes the reason for the fundraisers success is that the mom's club made it easy for people to donate.

"Many people wanted to donate but hadn't gotten around to it," Meltzer said.

"Plus some people are not comfortable donating through the Internet," Bagalot added. "They want to see the face of the person taking their money so they knew exactly were it went."

All funds raised are going directly to the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Meltzer said the Mom's club is also seeking a business that is willing to match the $5,600 raised.

"Through a corporate matching program we can double our contribution and the participating company will receive acknowledgement and recognition in all subsequent press releases," Bagalot said.