MFL MarMac third graders raise $400 to help families through Heifer International
Third grader Jaron Wille sells pencils to raise money to purchase animals for families in need through the nonprofit organization Heifer International. The third grade class raised $400 and was able to purchase a water buffalo, goat and hive of honey bees. (Submitted photo)
By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor
Several families in need from around the world will receive an animal from the nonprofit Heifer International thanks to MFL MarMac’s third grade class. The students recently raised $400 from a pencil sale to purchase animals through the organization, which, for nearly 70 years, has helped families fight hunger and poverty.
Heifer International’s goal is to bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to impoverished areas, as animals provide families with both food and a reliable income when items like milk, eggs or honey are sold or traded.
The students learned about the organization when reading the story “Beatrice’s Goat” by Paige McBrier. In the story, which is based on true events, a Ugandan girl named Beatrice Biira has her life changed when her family receives a goat from Heifer International. The family was able to gain an income by selling the goat’s milk, allowing 9-year-old Beatrice to attend school. The goat also had babies, and the sale of the kids allowed the family to put a roof over their heads.
“It’s like teaching a kid to fish instead of giving them the fish,” explained third grade teacher Jennifer Wilwert.
Inspired by the story, the students made fliers and planned a pencil sale. In a matter of days, they sold around 800 pencils for 25 cents apiece, raising $200. They also brought in around $200 in other donations.
Once they learned how much money they raised, the whole grade voted on the animals they wanted to purchase, selecting a water buffalo at $250, a goat at $120 and a hive of honey bees at $30.
Wilwert said students could have chosen anything from a pig or llama to a sheep or flock of birds.
“That big ticket item was the water buffalo,” she said, which will be a good work animal for a family.
Wilwert and the other third grade teachers, Crystal Thurn and Trish Solberg, said they were impressed by their students’ efforts, from selling pencils to counting the money and voting on the animals.
“This is the first year we tried it, and it was so successful,” Solberg noted. “They were eager to do it and to vote.”
Thurn said they did not expect to raise $400.
“We just wanted to get enough to get a goat,” she said. “There was a good response from the elementary parents, kids and teachers.”
Plus, said Wilwert, it didn’t hurt that this is the time of year many students are in need of extra pencils.
Wilwert added that the third graders gained a full learning experience through this—they read the story, checked out the Heifer International website and saw a video about Beatrice, who was eventually able to attend college in the United States, earning bachelors and masters degrees.
“They loved the idea that they can help someone earn money so they can go to school and learn to read,” she said. “They feel like they’re really helping. Hopefully this carries forward.”
