Bermuda has given more than $136,000 to the Red Cross in aid of Haiti in the week since a massive earthquake devastated the Caribbean nation.

Ann Spencer-Arscott, director of the local branch of the charity, said the response was the greatest to date.

"The response to the disaster in Haiti has been the fastest and largest we have ever seen even bigger than the response we received to the tsunamis in 2004," she said.

The funds were donated by individuals and organisations. The money will help the global charity meet its goal of raising $103 million for Haiti.

Students at Clearwater Middle School yesterday presented Mrs. Spencer-Arscott with a cheque for $1,500 to assist the earthquake victims.

"We held a grub day last week to raise money for Haiti," said the school's assistant principal Derek Tully. "We usually only charge the students $2 for a grub day. So if every student brought in $2 we would expect to raise approximately $450."

Clearwater head girl Dymond DeSilva and deputy head girl Jasmyn Renfroe came up with the idea of last week's grub day.

The 13-year-olds thought their peers might make a donation in exchange for being allowed to wear clothes of their choosing to school, instead of their uniforms. "We were in social studies class and were talking about how fortunate we are to live in Bermuda," said Dymond.

Jasmyn added: "We realised how privileged we are and that we were in a position to help. We decided to try and raise some money for the people in Haiti."

The pair said they had no idea there would be such an outpouring of funds. "One student emptied out his savings account and brought in $145 for the victims," said Dr. Tully. "Others brought in envelopes from their parents with donations inside."

He said it was because the students and parents felt so strongly about the devastation in Haiti that the school was able to triple its monetary goal. It is estimated the immense earthquake that struck the country may have left more than 100,000 dead and countless more injured or missing.

Mrs. Spencer Arscott congratulated Clearwater Middle School for being the first organisation to contact the Red Cross with a donation.