Miss Julia's morning class knows how to give. And her afternoon class does, too. Julia Neuhauser teaches two groups of
children at the Citrus Heights State Preschool in Citrus Heights (a suburb of
Sacramento), California. Both her morning and afternoon preschool classes saved their nickels,
dimes and quarters, and each class save enough to each donate a flock of chicks to a
family in need in another part of the world.
Ms. Neuhauser said, "As a preschool
classroom, I wanted to do a service project, because I think we need to start
very early to build empathy and compassion." Many families in poverty throughout the world
struggle for resources to feed or educate their children. When Ms. Neuhauser reached out to Heifer
International about her preschool projects, she asked for a letter to read to her
students to help them understand how, through their gift, they were helping a
young child to go to school.
Heifer was able to one better and sent a local Sacramento Heifer volunteer in Linda Eisenman to visit the classes. Linda
presented a certificate of appreciation to each class and brought a small flock
of chicks so that the children could see and touch what they have given. Each flock of chicks the children donate will produce
eggs, provide nourishment for families, and provide income so that, yes, the
children in the families can go to school. Through "Passing On The Gift," a basic Heifer principle, the first family to receive the chicks will donate a flock of chicks to another
family in the community, when offspring hatch from the first flock. This gift continues
and is passed on from family to family throughout the community, until all the
children are nourished and incomes become stable to provide an education for
all the children in the community.
A spirit of giving. Miss Julia's classes say "Pass it on."
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| Heifer Appreciation Certificate |
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| Ms. Julia's students holding chicks. |
