Sixty-one Marshall 5th graders attended a celebration program at Marshall Public Library for completing the “Read to Feed” reading challenge by the Friends of the Library. The Russell Dawson and Louise Dawson Garcia grant provided $500 to Heifer International for the students’ efforts.
Effingham, Ill. – Marshall 5th Graders participated in the Heifer International Read to Feed program to benefit families in other parts of the world in response to a challenge by the Friends of Marshall Public Library.
Daniel and Chris Garcia, who sponsor the Russell Dawson and Louise Dawson Garcia grant through the Friends, agreed to donate up to $500 to Heifer International in honor of the students who would earn one dollar for each book read.
Sixty-one students read the required six books in six weeks.
The students then voted on the combination of animals they thought would help other families the most.
The students, for the third year in a row, however, decided to send a girl to a school instead of the purchase of animals.
Those students who read less than six books also collectively earned $130, so the Friends decided to donate these funds for an additional irrigation pump and a trio of rabbits.
This way, all Marshall Fifth Graders contributed to Heifer International and helped families who need basic things that we all have such as food, shelter, medicine, clothing, and the ability to go to school.
Friends of Marshall Public Library congratulate the entire Fifth grade class on reading enough books to allow the donation of $500 to Heifer International on their behalf.
For more information on the Friends of Marshall Public Library, please call the library at 826-2535. To find out about Heifer International, visit www.heifer.org.