Courtesy Photo - York Elementary students (from left) Creighton Hoebelheinrich, Courtney Fritzler, Lauren Kaliff, Reid Hoffmann, Sam Kohmetscher and Kimberly Hallisey pack up boxes of supplies to send to their pen pals in Tanzania.
YORK — Rita Vogel's fourth grade class at York Elementary School (YES) is learning about generosity while opening their eyes to the world.
It all started when the class wanted to help Vogel’s friend, Kristi Scott, who is currently serving in the Peace Corps in Newala, Mtwara, Tanzania. Scott is originally from Belgrade and met Vogel when they were both studying at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
It all started when the class wanted to help Vogel’s friend, Kristi Scott, who is currently serving in the Peace Corps in Newala, Mtwara, Tanzania. Scott is originally from Belgrade and met Vogel when they were both studying at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
Originally, Vogel said, her class was going to raise money to go toward the library Scott was helping to renovate in her village. However, Scott was fortunate enough to quickly gather the necessary funds to cover the renovation costs before Vogel’s class could even start fundraising.
Vogel and her class were disappointed they did not have a chance to help, but they soon turned their attention to finding another way to help with Scott's efforts.
This was when the project became much more personal.
“We decided instead to actually gather supplies,” Vogel said, that students living in the village could use.
Students in Vogel's class have been pen pals with Scott's students for the entire school year. It meant a lot to Vogel’s students that they had an opportunity to gather useful supplies for their very own pen pals.
“They feel more personally connected to the people who will get these supplies,” Vogel said.
Over the course of the last month, the students have been working hard to make sure their friends in Tanzania have what they need. Scott's students were in need of uniforms for their soccer and netball teams, so Vogel’s students were very happy when Darcy McBride and Matt Kern donated former soccer and basketball uniforms from York High School.
“We also had one student donate a soccer ball, which we deflated and stuffed into a box,” Vogel said.
The students in Tanzania were also in need of dictionaries to add to their library, so a few YES teachers and students donated paperback dictionaries. Students have also brought in pens, pencils and various children’s books. In total, they have filled five boxes.
All of these supplies that Vogel’s students have been working so hard to collect will be going to middle school-aged students in another part of the world. Although they live far apart, the students here in York and in Tanzania have come to know one another over this past year. Vogel’s students couldn’t be happier to help their new friends.
“My students have been very excited about the entire project,” Vogel said.
Vogel explained that they have also been raising money to cover the shipping costs, and they wanted to include the rest of the school with the fundraising. Golden Gate Express in York donated takeout containers so that Vogel’s students could put a collection container in each of the classrooms throughout YES.
Students and teachers have donated loose change to go toward the $290 postage costs.
Students from York Middle School also played a role in the fundraising by donating $50 raised during hat days, which are days when students are allowed to wear hats to school if they donate money to charity.
Vogel said they hope to send the boxes of supplies before the last day of school on May 19.
Vogel has recently been in contact with Scott, who said her students are very excited to receive the gifts from their pen pals. They are especially excited for the uniforms and soccer ball.
“Kristi said she was very proud of my class and all we were doing to help out,” Vogel said.
Vogel understands just how much her students are learning from this project.
“I think it’s a great way to teach them generosity and the importance of helping those who are less fortunate than them,” Vogel said.
“I also think having them work with people in another country opens up their world for them and helps them realize our world is bigger than York or even Nebraska, and that there are opportunities for them to help others in our country and around the world as they get older.”
“They feel more personally connected to the people who will get these supplies,” Vogel said.
Over the course of the last month, the students have been working hard to make sure their friends in Tanzania have what they need. Scott's students were in need of uniforms for their soccer and netball teams, so Vogel’s students were very happy when Darcy McBride and Matt Kern donated former soccer and basketball uniforms from York High School.
“We also had one student donate a soccer ball, which we deflated and stuffed into a box,” Vogel said.
The students in Tanzania were also in need of dictionaries to add to their library, so a few YES teachers and students donated paperback dictionaries. Students have also brought in pens, pencils and various children’s books. In total, they have filled five boxes.
All of these supplies that Vogel’s students have been working so hard to collect will be going to middle school-aged students in another part of the world. Although they live far apart, the students here in York and in Tanzania have come to know one another over this past year. Vogel’s students couldn’t be happier to help their new friends.
“My students have been very excited about the entire project,” Vogel said.
Vogel explained that they have also been raising money to cover the shipping costs, and they wanted to include the rest of the school with the fundraising. Golden Gate Express in York donated takeout containers so that Vogel’s students could put a collection container in each of the classrooms throughout YES.
Students and teachers have donated loose change to go toward the $290 postage costs.
Students from York Middle School also played a role in the fundraising by donating $50 raised during hat days, which are days when students are allowed to wear hats to school if they donate money to charity.
Vogel said they hope to send the boxes of supplies before the last day of school on May 19.
Vogel has recently been in contact with Scott, who said her students are very excited to receive the gifts from their pen pals. They are especially excited for the uniforms and soccer ball.
“Kristi said she was very proud of my class and all we were doing to help out,” Vogel said.
Vogel understands just how much her students are learning from this project.
“I think it’s a great way to teach them generosity and the importance of helping those who are less fortunate than them,” Vogel said.
“I also think having them work with people in another country opens up their world for them and helps them realize our world is bigger than York or even Nebraska, and that there are opportunities for them to help others in our country and around the world as they get older.”
SOURCE:YORK NEWS-TIME
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