Rhonda and Karolyn collecting donations

We’d never tried a project like this before, and wanted to share how we did it. We’re just five College girls, and we were able to raise over 4 tons of corn. We thought if five other students somewhere else started a project of their own, maybe they could raise enough for beans, or medical equipment. Here’s how we did it:  

Valetka, Michelle Delano, & Lakenda

 Our Club sponsors are Ms. Delano, our Art professor, and Mr. Dean, in Admissions. That’s Ms. Delano in the photo with Lakenda and Valetka. During one of our International Unity meetings, Ms. Delano told us about a newspaper article she had read about the terrible drought in northern Mexico and the effect it was having on the Tarahumara. She told us that she had visited the Tarahumara as a little girl, about thirty-five years ago. She told us her memories of playing with dolls on a cave floor with the other children, and how it was the first time she realized how big the difference could be between the “haves” and the “have nots”. When she got home she cleaned out her room and sold her toys at a yard sale. She set up a lemonade stand and sent the money she collected to Father Verplanken to help out her new friends.

When Ms. Delano told us that story, we decided we wanted to do something, too. We researched the Tarahumara on the Internet, and found out more about them. We decided to have a Penny Drive. It was simple- we took coffee cans and cut openings in the plastic lids for change. We made labels for the cans and decorated them with pictures we’d downloaded from the Net. Our plan was to set the cans out at strategic locations- the Library, the cafeteria, the Faculty Lounge- and collect the change every night for a month. We decided it was a good idea to have a specific goal. We found out the current price for 100 lbs. of beans and corn. If we could collect just $9.00(US) per day,  that would mean that we could provide 100 lbs. of corn to a Tarahumara family. When we collected change from other students, we would point out that a dollar could feed a whole family. That way, people realized that every little bit helped.

When Ms. Delano e-mailed the faculty and staff to let them know about our project, Mr. Dean replied with an e-mail challenge. His office had gotten together and decided to donate the equivalent of 100 pounds of beans and 100 pounds of corn to our cause. He challenged the rest of the College staff to meet or beat the donation. We could not believe the support we got from our teachers and others! Everyone from the President to the Library staff made a pledge. Within three days, every single office or department had responded to the challenge! At the end of the month, we were able to send a check for $902. to the Tarahumara Children’s Hospital Fund. We downloaded and printed wallet-size pictures of the Tarahumara to give to the people who donated as a way of saying “thanks”. It gave them a chance to see the beautiful people they had helped.

At Richard Bland College, we learn a lot of things. One of the best things we’ve learned is that you really can make a difference by deciding to help someone else. We hope you’ll decide to help, too, and maybe start a project of your own!

PS: Other Colleges: If you decide to take us up on our challenge to start your own project, email us at mdelano@rbc.edu !