BonnerSprings.com

Bonner Springs Elementary fifth-graders raised money in their last week of school to help feed children thousands of miles away.

After their music teacher, Penny Byerly, told them of the poverty rampant in many parts of Africa, fifth-graders Alexa Davis, Amber Cox, Maddy Kempf and Ashtyn Wells decided they should take action.

"Me and my friends were very upset and we said, 'Let's do something about it,'" Maddy said.

Laura Danieri, the parent of the girl's fifth-grade classmate, Lilly, happened to know a former University of Kansas professor, Leo Villalon, who directs the Center for African Studies at the University of Florida.

Villalon had been in Senegal recently and told Danieri of a woman he knew named Farma who feeds milk and bread to children who come into the city to work. Through BSE principal, Kim Mitchell, the girls heard about Farma and decided to raise money for her.

Having recently watched "American Idol Gives Back," the girls set about creating a "BSE 5th Grade Gives Back" project. The girls decorated collection jars and set them near the entrance inside the school the last week of the year and made flyers.

In addition, Don Cooley's fifth-grade class donated money raised selling healthy snacks.

When the money was counted on the last day, "we almost started to scream," said Maddy. They had expected to raise $100 or $200, but one week's total came to $300, which Villalon gave to Farma.

"She e-mailed back to let us know that she was able to buy plastic shoes for all of the boys, put a roof over the building where they gathered in the city and buy enough milk and bread to feed the boys for many weeks," said Mitchell. "It is amazing what four little girls and $300 can do."

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