Receiving help from far away
April 30, 2008
By Laura Geggel
North Bend Elementary students reach out to children in Uganda
The 34 kindergartners in Mary Lee Johnson’s morning and afternoon classes at North Bend Elementary are serious about fundraising. In one month, these five-and-six-year-olds have raised about $1,700 for a classroom in Uganda by doing household chores, holding bake sales and selling raffle tickets.
Corbin Moore even donated his dollar from the tooth fairy.
This isn’t a typical fundraiser, but these aren’t typical students either. Johnson said the idea for the fundraiser began before winter break.
“In December, we were talking about things they wanted for Christmas,” Johnson recalled. “One boy said, ‘I can’t think of anything I need for Christmas. I think I have everything.’
“It dawned on me that so many of our kids have so much. They have no idea that there are children in the world who don’t have anything.”
Some of Johnson’s students may have closets of toys, but they also have curiosity and drive. When a children’s choir from Uganda sang at the school in February, the kindergartners peppered Johnson with questions about the performers. Why was the choir singing and where were their parents?
Johnson turned to Kimberly Calhoun, a friend from Cascade Covenant Church who has visited and continues to fundraise for programs in Uganda through In the Field Ministries and its non-religiously affiliated program, Adopt a Classroom.
After learning about the program, Johnson and her class decided to sponsor a kindergarten class in Kittongo, Uganda.
The conditions in Kittongo are difficult to explain to a kindergartner. In the areas around the town, many students wake up hours before school to work on the family farm. The terrain is rough and few have shoes to shield their feet as they walk several miles to school. Calhoun brought photos and drums from Kittongo to show Johnson’s class.
“They had tons of questions and were very interested in doing this,” Johnson said.
The class set a $500 benchmark for money that would go toward pencils, crayons, books and other supplies. Calhoun said she would wire the money through the International Children’s Network to Kittongo school directors, allowing them to buy supplies locally and avoid shipping costs.
One stipulation remained; Johnson did not want her students to simply ask for money from their friends and family. She wanted them to earn it.
Over spring break, the children showed their dedication by sweeping floors, shelving dishes and clearing tables at home. The combined fruits of their labors added up to more than $100.
“I cleaned my room, made my bed and vacuumed the floor,” said Galen Kamp.
During North Bend Elementary School’s art walk, the class held a bake sale and raked in $300.
Sandra Finanan decided not to pay her daughter Maya Nataros for chores, but she thought of another way the kindergartners could earn money. Finanan works for Kidz Bounce, a company that hosts parties with inflatable play structures in Preston. For every gift bag the kindergartners filled for Kidz Bounce, the company agreed to pay them 10 cents.
The children formed an assembly line and filled 200 bags in 20 minutes and they continue to stuff more every week.
Amber Kammenga said packing gift bags was fun.
“I got to pass out harmonicas,” she said.
Making money takes time, but the kindergartners are eager to break a record.
“It’s important that kids learn at a young age that they have so much,” said Finanan. “If they just ask for it, they’re not really having to sacrifice anything.”
The whole class recently attended Maya’s birthday party, but instead of bringing gifts, the family asked that guests bring a $1 donation for the Kittongo students.
“We probably raised in the neighborhood of $82,” Finanan said.
Another mother, Christine Chartier, has helped the class raise funds by organizing a fundraiser with more than 30 prizes. Selling tickets at $1 a pop, the class has collected about $1,060 for the May 1 drawing.
“I think it’s fantastic having the kids work so hard,” said Chartier. “There’s nothing like good, hard work to earn that money.”
Students at Opstad Elementary, Cascade View Elementary, Snoqualmie Middle School, Fall City Elementary and Chief Kanim Middle School are also fundraising for Adopt A Classroom. At North Bend Elementary, the kindergartners know that their funds are going to a good cause.
“They don’t have any toys or paper or pencils or stuff to work with,” said Bailey Plantz.
Moore, the boy who donated his tooth-fairy dollar, agreed.
“They need it more than me,” he said.
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