St. John’s students raise over $3,000 with read-a-thon

After learning about the prevalence of hunger and poverty in the world, several grades at St. John’s Catholic School in Brunswick cracked open books in the hope of helping families in need bridge the gap to a better life.

During “Read to Feed,” a read-a-thon held at the school, students logged more than 500 hours of reading time and collected pledges from family members, friends and parishioners, according to a prepared release. Second, third and fifth graders all participated in the initiative.

“Together, the classrooms raised $3,870.86 for Heifer International,” said Shelly Wheeler, principal at St. John’s. “The fifth graders raised over $3,200 themselves! Their goal was $540.”

Since 1944, Heifer International has helped more than 36 million families by providing livestock, agricultural training, tools and education.

“One of the neat aspects of the program is that Heifer lets the students choose which items to purchase with their donation,” Wheeler said.

The students chose to use their donations to support three goats, three water buffalo, three flocks of chickens, three ducks/geese, three honeybee hives, two heifers, two llamas, two tree seedlings, two trios of rabbits, two sheep, a pig, a hope basket and a knitting basket.

“Their donation will help provide these things to families in high-need areas around the world and continued to cultivate a love of reading at the same time,” Wheeler said. “We are very proud.”

Dollars for scholars

Two Bowdoin College students were recipients of $1,500 scholarships by The Maine State Society of Washington, D.C. Grace Lee, of Falmouth, is a junior studying neuroscience, with a sociology minor. Micaela Simeone is a junior pursuing a double major in English and digital and computational studies.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.