Not many elementary school-aged children get an opportunity to ‘adopt? other students, but that was the case this summer at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church.
Children in grades 1-5 were invited to take part in an outreach project as part of the summer faith formation program.
‘This year the parish invited parishioners Joe and Jan McCarthy to tell about their involvement with the Detroit Zoo’s Adopt-a-School program in the Amazon Rainforest,? said Marilyn Lines.?’The McCarthys help raise funds to purchase school supplies’for hundreds of children in the Amazon basin, and they have gone twice to help deliver these items.?
Over 300 children participated and helped raise $1,248.22, enough money to ‘adopt? 70 children for a whole year, according to Lines.
That money is now on its way to the Detroit Zoo.
‘The zoo partners with an organization in South America to buy books for a lot of school children along the rainforest,? Jan McCarthy explained.
The books help to educate young children along the Amazon and Napo Rivers, which, in turn, helps to save the rainforest.
‘Helping’children their own age who’have so little (according to our standards)’was an exciting project to take on,? Lines said.
‘The’McCarthys’shared? pictures of their visits, school books and crafts made by the Peruvian children.?? ?
‘We went and told them about the rainforest and why it is important to everybody,? McCarthy added.
‘Their neighbors aren’t just the people next door or across the street.?
The students were encouraged to find creative ways to raise money for the project, not just ask Mom or Dad for help.
‘We asked them to come up with their own ideas,? Lines said. ‘We were touched by their generosity.?
‘We had some kids bring in their allowance for the past two weeks,? she added. ‘One second grader, Amanda Pordon, raised $128.75 from a lemonade and cookie stand.?
A delegation from the zoo is set to head back to the Amazon this spring, for the 16th time.
The generous donation from children thousands of miles away will help ensure that there are plenty of supplies to hand out.
‘The children learned you could have fun while you do a good deed,? McCarthy said. ‘They had so many stories to share. They did a remarkable job and we had no idea they would raise so much.?
More information about the Detroit Zoo’s Adopt-a-School program is available at www.detroitzoo.org.
Christ the Redeemer is located at 2700 Waldon Road and can be reached at (248)391-1621.