Hawks with a heart

Today’s blog is from Eve wallwork, Elizabeth lane elementary school

In March 2016, Elizabeth Lane Elementary students and staff, in Matthews, NC, packed meals for the first time with Servants with a Heart. We call this our Hawks with a Heart project. Fast forward eight years and we are now partnering with Servants with a Heart for the sixth time to pack meals. 

One of our school commitments is to ensure that each student grows socially, emotionally, and academically under our care. Hawks with a Heart is a great opportunity to teach our students empathy, compassion, the value of hard work and the impact of service through a hands-on project that makes a huge impact on hungry families in Nicaragua. 

The cost to host a packing event is covered for public schools the first year. Our challenge for each of the subsequent years we host a packing event is to raise the funds to cover the cost of the meal ingredients. Our goal is to raise $8,500 so we can pack 50,000 meals. We want our students to understand the power of working together toward a common goal. We have met or exceeded that target every year!  

Students are encouraged to raise money by supporting their family, friends, and neighbors through acts of service. Teachers, students, and families brainstorm ideas for earning money with a goal for each student to contribute around $15. Every year our students impress us with their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. This year we had many students perform chores at home or help siblings with homework. Other students held lemonade or bake stands. Some students helped neighbors spread mulch, walk dogs, and water plants.  One student even made a deal with a his parents to match his earnings so he could donate double the amount. Through this service work, Elizabeth Lane students raised over $11,000 in just under two weeks! 

We love seeing how our students will earn the money needed to fund our next project. We look forward to working with Servants with a Heart to make an impact in our community and around the world.

ELE 2nd-grader, Tristan Tully, sold cookies and brownies to earn money for our Hawks with a Heart project.