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Arts & Entertainment

JFK Students Hosting Benefit Concert for Heifer International

The JFK School's 4th and 5th graders collaborate to raise funds. Read their own persuasive essays on Canton Patch.

The Room 24 Heifer Helpers are hosting a benefit concert for Heifer International.

Heifer International is a global nonprofit with a solution to ending hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. Heifer helps empower millions of families to lift them out of poverty and hunger to self-reliance through gifts of livestock, seeds and trees and extensive training, which provide a multiplying source of food and income.

The love Heifer International, so they are bringing their unique sound and music to the benefit concert on Wednesday April 13.

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The concert takes place from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the JFK Elementary School in Canton.

Elisa Blanchard, a fourth grade teacher whose class is managing the project said, “My classroom is organizing the event, in part because I had gotten involved with Heifer International as a coach of last year's Community Problem Solving Team. So, my fourth graders were very inspired after reading "Give a Goat."

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Rebecca Smart, a music teacher at the JFK and the director of the Xylos, said "the fourth grade students came up with the idea of reaching out to people in need.  Last year, the Xylos partnered with the community problem solvers in putting on the first   It was a success.  The fourth grade students in Blanchard's room decided that they would take over and organize the concert this year, as their way of helping people in need.”

“The Xylo's role is to perform," Smart added. “The students have been working hard to learn two new songs, and are excited to perform on Wednesday night.” 

Many families are also contributing plates of cookies and baked goods to offer for suggested donation at the concert.

“As a parent, I think it’s amazing that the kids came up with this idea,” said Kristen Hooten, whose daughter attends the JFK and is in Blanchard’s classroom.  "They are so excited and every night my daigther comes home with heifer news.”

The fourth grade children have written presentations for the evening, “persuasive paragraphs” to help with donations. The fourth graders are practicing their presentations for the night of the concert to educate and persuade their audience, and Patch has samples.

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Why Support Heifer International? Persuasive paragraphs from Room 24 Fourth Graders:

 “Heifer’s goal is to give people that don’t have much to live off of animals that will help improve their lives.  You should donate money to Heifer because people might need animals to help feed their kids and make some money. So once the animal has young the family can pass on that animal gift to their neighbors. Then after their whole community gets an animal it makes everybody’s life easier.”  By Ryan Lentol

“YOU should donate to Heifer International because you could help end world hunger and poverty.  Also, if you donate, it lets Heifer give an animal to a family in need. If that family eats or drinks the product from that animal, they might not suffer in world hunger! That family could sell the products and have enough money for education or a job! Now, instead of buying a pair of shoes, PLEASE DONATE TO HEIFER INTERNATIONAL!”  By Kayla Smigielski

 “Please come to the Heifer International Benefit Concert! Heifer is an organization that helps people in 5 continents. That’s over 120 countries. The animals you donate may give poor families material, muscle, meat, milk, manure, motivation, and money. If you think manure is a funny word, then think of manure fueling houses. Methane is made from manure.” By Mikey Staffiere

“Heifer International has projects in over 120 countries.  It is important to help Heifer because many families need help feeding children so they can grow up healthy.  Healthy food can help build strong muscles. In North America there are now projects in the two Canadian provinces (Saskatchewan and Ontario) and twenty-two of the United States, including Vermont, New Hampshire, and mine. It is good to help heifer because you feel proud once you do.” By Janayea Owens

"Heifer encourages people to donate money for heifers (cows that haven’t had their first calf),a flock of ducks, goats, pigs, and water buffalo. When the animals have babies, the owners give the babies to other people in need. This is called passing on the gift. People are helped by Heifer all over the world. There are Heifer Projects in Saskatchewan, Ontario, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire and many other places too! If you want to learn more go to www.heifer.org!” By Ryan Cohen

“Please donate to Heifer because you could make a life better in over 120 countries. If you donate, it could go to a Heifer Project in 22 states in this country. When their animal gives birth they have to give it to a family in their community. It’s called passing on the gift.” By Sam Walsh

“What Heifer International does is they take the money you donate and give a family an animal so they can have food and can sell some for money for school. Heifer International gives people animals all around the world except Australia and Antarctica. The 7 m’s are milk, meat, manure, money, muscle, material, and motivation. These are the seven m’s of animal gifts. Please donate to us so we can help Heifer!!!!!” By Tommy Pulcini

“Can you remember a time when you asked your mom if you could get a glass of milk? Well, just think of a little girl your age that can’t get a glass of milk that! All you have to do is log on to www.Heifer.org and read what differences you can make. If you just scroll down a bit you will find the word donate in big letters and if you click on it you will just have to type in how much money you want to donate. It’s that simple! You just bought a goat or a cow to a family that needed it. I can’t think of any reason why you wouldn’t want to help. So, now you can drink your glass of milk and say, “I just saved a life.” By Bella Argus

“Heifer International is an organization to help families in need all around the world except for Antarctica and Australia. Heifer International’s goal is to help all the families in need. It is worthwhile to donate to Heifer because you could help a child be able to go to school or have enough food.” By Lillian Tian

"Heifer International is an organization to help families in need better life. You should donate to Heifer because if you donate just $20 you can get a whole flock of chicks! These chicks go to a family to help them have education, good soil, and food. Heifer has projects in every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Heifer International has four regional education centers for school children, families and other organizations to visit. One of the four is in our state. It is Overlook Farms in Rutland, about an hour from here." By Katie Trerice

“Heifer International is an organization to help families all over the world reach their basic needs including education. It has projects on every continent except Australia and Antarctica and in over 120 countries. Heifer has benefited millions of families in poverty for over 50 years. You could help by donating no little than $20 and still let a family receive a flock of chickens or ducks.  If you do donate enough for any animal, a family in need will have each of the 7 Ms of animal gifts. They include: Muscle, Meat, Money, Milk, Manure, Motivation, and Materials.” By Ally Chin

“Please donate money to Heifer International so Heifer can buy a goat, a flock of chickens, or a cow to give to a family in need. The animal can give the family milk, eggs, meat. The family can sell the milk, eggs, and meat at the market.” By Tyler Groom

 “Heifer International’s goal is to donate animals to families in need. Just donating 20 dollars can help. Goats and cows produce milk so families can make healthy foods like cheese and yogurt. With a sheep’s wool you could make coats, hats, gloves, and other useful items. Chickens lay eggs so that families can eat, and then sell the extra eggs. Please help Heifer International donate!” By Veronika Sliz

“The mission of Heifer international is to give family’s in need an animal that can give them milk, cheese, and money.  When you donate money to Heifer, the people in need get training and an animal. Heifer is helping families in over 120 countries.  Giving a family in need an animal may also end their poverty. Poverty is the state of being poor.  Some animals that Heifer donate are goats, heifers, alpacas, pigs, water buffaloes, and camels. So what are you waiting for? Help Heifer!! “ By Patrick Murray

“Heifer International’s goal is to feed and make life better for families in need all over the world. Heifer wants you to try to donate money for families in need. Please help by donating to Heifer. “ By Raniya Crawford

“Please donate to Heifer International. Why? Heifer is a program that helps people around the globe from poverty. This is how it works. A family receives an animal, and the animal gives seven m’s. Those are material, muscle, money, motivation, milk, meat, and manure. After the animal has a baby they give it to another family and another. This is called passing on the gift. As you can see, those are reasons to donate to Heifer." By Michael Mazzola

“It is worthwhile to donate money to Heifer International because it helps people in need.  The people that are in need might need food. They can get food from animals like meat, milk, eggs, cheese, and yogurt.  Yum!” By John Devane

“Why should you help heifer? There are many reasons why. One reason is they want to end world hunger and poverty. If you donate, you can help a family in need get an animal, and hopefully reverse their luck. Heifer helps in every continent besides Australia and Antarctica, and over 120 countries. So far, heifer has helped about 8.5 million people. Even a small gift can make a big difference!” By Gil Rosenthal

“All over the world people are starving and in a poverty state.  Are you just going to sit and watch?! Good, that is where Heifer International comes in. When we buy an animal, for a family in need it will give milk, transportation, hope for the future, and manure.   (Manure is good for soil and methane gas.)  Did you know Water Buffalo can do the work of six men? So donate today!!” By Claire O’Riordan

“It is worthwhile to donate to Heifer International because your money could buy a goat and save a life. Heifer International’s mission is to end world hunger and poverty. Poverty means the state of being poor. Heifer gives an animal to a poor family in need. But, when that animal has a female calf or baby, the family will give it to another new family. This is called passing on the gift. When every family keeps passing on the gift the whole community is better. To make this happen, all you have to do is donate a little money to buy an animal that they will give to a family after their training. Once that happens, and the family gets their animal, the animal will eventually give birth, and that is when passing on the gift starts. The process of getting an animal is sort of long, if you include the training needed to receive one.” By Billy Nee

“Heifer’s main mission is to help people in need by giving them a heifer or a goat to help them in their lives. The animals give them the 7M’s of animal gifts: material, muscle, money, motivation, milk, meat, and manure.  People around the world donate money to Heifer International so that Heifer volunteers and staff can help provide families with what they need to survive. But they need the right amount of money to buy the animal and give it to the people which is why they ask for donations.” By Rachel Beatty

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