Brunner Students Buy a Goat for Ugandans

Third grade students in Mrs. D. Pincus's class from H.B. Brunner Elementary school have, with their own initiatives and on their own time, raised $900 for Heifer International, an organization that collects money to buy goats and other animals for people in Uganda.  

Pincus's third grade class read the book Give a Goat by Jan West Schrock, which is where students learned about how the animal donations provide a reliable source of food and income for poor families. Extra agricultural products, such as milk from cows or goats, honey from bees or eggs from chickens, can be both shared within the community and sold at market. 

The class decided to start their own fundraiser to purchase a goat for a Ugandan family. Over Memorial Day weekend two children held a cookie sale and raised almost $150. A student who is involved with hockey had a charity event at his home called "Super Score O," and sold enough hockey pucks to submit raise $330. Some students set up a can for donations, while others did extra chores at home or donated their allowance.  

Since the children raised so much money, not only were they able to purchase several goats, but also donated flocks of chicks and geese using $275 of the money earned.    

Throughout the month, the class was also involved in a grade-wide Service Learning Project, where they learned about the needs of orphans. One student brought Holt International, an adoption organization, to their attention as he had been adopted from South Korea through the organization. Students donated the remainder of the money earned, $300, to help children with cleft palate repair or congenital heart problems. 

Pincus says the entire school community couldn't be prouder of these students and their hard work, initiative and compassion. When Pincus's 5-year-old son heard what the class did, he gave money from his piggy bank. Pincus says the students learned how the power to make change is in each and every one of them.