We've all heard the phrase "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." Herbert Mills STEM Elementary School decided to help families eat for a lifetime by partnering with Heifer International, a company that provides life-changing opportunities to families who are suffering in poverty or from hunger. How? It all started with a cup of milk.

 

Seventy-five years ago, Founder Dan West began outlining a simple but groundbreaking plan to help the hungry. West, a Midwestern farmer had recently returned from volunteer service in the Spanish Civil War where his job was to provide weary refugees with a single cup of milk. He knew American farmers had resources many others did not: cows and the steady supply of nutrition from their milk. 

 

West took his resources further and developed a way for a family to get a cow, not a cup. The family was trained to take care of the cow, milk the cow and could sell the milk. In return, not only did the family get income and nutrition, but they then "paid it forward" by helping another family receive a cow of their own.

 

Second graders at Herbert Mills Elementary School partnered with Heifer International because two of their global goals are zero poverty and zero hunger. They raised enough money ($500) to purchase a cow for a family. Mrs. Sherman, a second grade teacher, explained that while a cow can help one family, there are other animals for less cost (for example a pig is $125, a goose is $20). A Google Survey was sent out to the second grade to determine if they would like to purchase a cow for one family or multiple animals for multiple families.

 

Mr. Eric Smith, who grew up in Zaire, now known as The Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, came to Herbert Mills to accept the funds the classes raised to help those in need. He shared his experiences growing up, how his family had no running water or electricity and shared artifacts and stories about life in a small village in the Congo.

 

Mr. Smith then presented the second grade with a certificate of thanks for their impact on helping end poverty and world hunger. There are 800 million people in the world who are food insecure. To date, Heifer International has helped more than 34 million families, and Herbert Mills STEM Elementary School second graders have contributed to that number!