Donate to Dunk Donation Drive at Amherst Elementary

Summer is officially here!  But for the kids at Amherst Elementary, as school was winding down and summer break was getting kicked off, they were doing something good – one child at a time!

The Amherst Elementary PTA and Nuestros Niños partnered up to hold the Donate to Dunk Donation Drive.  The children and staff were encouraged to collect money to help children in Guatemala.  The money could be allowance money or money earned from doing a special chore at home.  As we counted money, we could tell that many kids raided their piggy banks.  We heard stories of the kids talking with their parents about what they were doing; donating their own money; and going to family and friends to collect spare change.  We saw children donate money that may not have as much, and we saw several kids bring in $40-$50 (much of it in pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters).  



Each class had a "heart" to fill with drops of water.  Each drop signified $5 raised by their class.



Every child had a voice on how the money would be utilized! Each child that donated at least $1 had the chance to vote if the money would be used to buy chickens, ONIL stoves, or sponsor a child’s education.

·   Chickens produce eggs which provide protein for families that may otherwise only eat tortillas and salt.  They can also provide an income if the families have extra eggs to sell.  Each chicken costs $10.   

·   ONIL Stoves are fuel efficient and decrease respiratory issues & burns.  It is estimated 1 in 5 children under 5 years old die, mainly from respiratory issues from having an open cooking fire in a closed in room in the home.  Each stove costs $160.

·   School Sponsorship is $180 per elementary age child and is an amazing gift for a child!  Education is not a “right” as it is here in the US - it is a luxury item for many Guatemalans.  Each year of school provides traditional learning in math, reading, etc… but more importantly it opens choices and opportunities for individuals.



Ms. Lee



 



Mrs. Yarbrough



Beyond the chance to feel good about helping others, the top 2 donors in each class got a chance to dunk Ms. Lee or Mrs. Yarbrough at an assembly on Monday, May 9th!  In addition, each class that raised $35, gave the teacher an opportunity to dunk Ms. Lee or Mrs. Yarbrough! 

Many teachers allowed Angela Grussing to talk with their class about the real impact they could have by just bringing in a dollar or two – and adding it to their classmates’ donations.  The children asked questions, and you could see how many of the kids were grasping that they could make an impact.  There was one conversation with a 4^th grader that sums it up… 

After talking with the class about what we were doing and how they could help, he raised his hand and said, “Are you just trying to make us feel bad?”  I let him know that was definitely not the purpose, but rather to let him know how each of us can make an impact in this world – whether it be bringing in a dollar to help a family in Guatemala or doing a kind task for a neighbor.  His teacher followed up with the fact that it does, “tug at our heart though.”  We discussed many things, including the fact that we are very lucky to live in the United States as we have “safety nets” in our government if we fall on hard times, but other places in this world do not have these “safety nets.”  Imagine my surprise the next day when we had a huge bag of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters totaling $25.76 from this 4^th grader.  We talked with him and found out he had gone to family and friends collecting spare change. 

That is the 2^nd part of the mission of Nuestros Niños… To provide both adults and children the opportunity to serve others in a meaningful way with a special emphasis on instilling a sense of service in children.  How wonderful to see it fulfilled in this way! 

Ms. Lee & Mrs. Yarbrough were great sports, and the kids had a great time as two assemblies were held for the kids to have a chance to dunk them!  In the end, $2,058.91 was raised!!!  Several times the kids were able to dunk Ms. Lee & Mrs. Yarbrough, and there was laughter and smiles all around.  28 teachers had the chance to take their best aim, and over 80 students had a chance as well!

What a great way to start the summer – with water, fun, laughter – all while helping others!  In the end, the kids wound up donating:

• 75 chickens,
• 4 ONIL stoves, and
• 3 school sponsorships!

How awesome – Kids can truly make a difference!!!

(A special thanks to the volunteers that helped pull this event off!  You know who you are!)

 

And More Pictures...

 

Gift of Food

Mother Teresa taught that if you can’t feed 100 people then feed just one. 

Malnutrition is rampant in Guatemala, but the current need for food is even more acute.  Because of Tropical Storm Agatha in the summer of 2010 and the destruction it caused to the corn crop and land, the corn shortage has now begun in earnest.  Guatemala now has to import corn from Mexico, driving the cost of corn up and making it scarce. 

Instead of worrying about what to cook for dinner as we do in our country, many families in Guatemala worry about IF there will even be food for dinner.  Some days only a plain tortilla and some salt is all the food a child may eat for the day.  Even children often work under the hot sun for meager amounts just so they can buy some food to eat for the day.

One of the ways we can help is by providing sponsored food baskets to those most in need.  A typical food basket might include chicken, incaparina (a fortified cereal), squash, carrots, fruit, beans, rice, corn and whatever else has been identified as most needed.  This all comes in a reusable plastic basket.  Mayan Families, our host group for our service trips, buys the fresh fruit and vegetables from other families in their programs to help support those families too. 

As many of you know, Nuestros Niños is going to Guatemala this summer on a service trip to help with various programs.  One of our goals is to provide a minimum of 10 food baskets to 10 families while we are down there.  Each basket is only $35.  Think of how easily you often spend $35 on refreshments at a ball game or a new pair of jeans.  Then think of how much a basket of healthy food would mean to an entire family that has no food to feed their children.  Normally my biggest problem at dinnertime is what we are going to fix – not IF we are going to have food to provide to our family…

Please consider a sponsorship of $35 to provide nutritious food to a family (by June 5^th).  We will gladly take a picture and card from your family to the family that receives the basket – and provide your family with a picture and information on the family that receives it. 

Protein and nutritious food are vital to a child’s ability to learn.  Though we can’t feed everyone, we can start by feeding one…

blog by: Sharon Grussing

Chickens!

Last week our oldest daughter came home and informed us that her teacher has told them to have eggs for breakfast this week.  Why?  Because they are taking their state standardized yearly testing and need to have protein from the eggs to help their minds and bodies with the testing. J

Hmm…kind of interesting since one of Nuestros Niños projects is to provide chickens to families in Guatemala!  The whole reason is to provide protein to families.  Some families literally have nothing to eat.  I have seen children whose black hair has turned blonde due to the malnutrition.  Others subsist on tortillas and salt.  Some will scourge the woods for edible plants.  By supplying chickens, it provides a nutritious food source – EGGS.  If there are extra eggs, families can sell them at the market to provide a source of income.

The chickens provide a sustainable source of protein.  They are easy and inexpensive to care for – making it a good choice for families.  I remember going into homes on our first service trip in 2008 and thinking how strange, but cute it was to have baby chicks running around by my feet. 

Now I can appreciate what a life changer these chickens can be for families.  Malnutrition is prevalent in Guatemala.  As we have all heard – protein and nutritious food is vital in our ability to be ready to learn in the classroom!

At first we planned on providing 10 chicks to each family, however, it has been determined that it is better to provide 3 chickens to each family.  The chickens are more likely to live in the harsh summer rainfalls than the chicks – and they are already providing eggs.  Many families have an egg or two by the time they have walked to their homes.

Families are identified as good recipients for the chickens, and then arrive early at the Mayan Families’office  anxious to receive this precious gift.  Recipients are instructed on how to take care of the chickens by the staff.  The children and adults on the service trip scoop chicken feed into bags to be given to the families. 

Then the fun begins!  Our kids get to figure out the best way to catch the chicken and move it into the receiving family’s basket.  For some kids, it seems like they have been doing it forever.  For others, it is a treat to see them master the feat and gain the confidence to catch the chicken.  Each family receives three chickens from Nuestros Niños.

 

Our goal is to provide 30 families with 3 chickens each.  Each chicken is $10 – so for one family to receive 3 chickens it is $30.  If you are interested in providing a family with chickens (or even one chicken), please let me know!  A nutritious food source is a great gift to give a family!  If you are interested in giving a chicken in honor of someone at Easter, I have little fuzzy chickens that could be given as a representative gift.  (See picture below.)