What gifts do you give? What gifts do you hope to receive? Seven-year-old Alissa, daughter of Albert and Bonita Schaly, has set a high standard in gift giving. Last month, she gave $2,312 to Food for the Hungry, a non profit, low overhead organization serving the poor in various countries.The Canadian government matched a portion of Alissa's offering to the tune of $2,000 more dollars.
The list of animals and supplies Alissa was able to send to needy families is impressive. She chose chickens, sheep, rabbits, fruit and veggie seeds, breakfast for two students for a year, school fees, a desk, school supplies, school uniforms, sports equipment, Ag-pack, medicine cabinet, prenatal vitamins, mosquito net, water faucet, tree seedlings, fertilizer training, emergency response system and "build a stable" (a complement of farm animals for a village).
How did this Island Discovery School elementary student manage to give so many gifts that will change so many lives? It all started when her grandmother left a Food for the Hungry catalogue on the kitchen table. Alissa read and reacted. She donated her own savings: $8.30. Next she chose 22 items she wished to give and proceeded to raise the rest of the money from family, friends, her church, her school, the federal government and various businesses on Bowen, using donation jars. We heard her fervent appeal at Cates Hill Chapel, and were amazed at her clarity and focus. Alissa fine-tuned her pitch and it was pitch perfect.
Mary Ann Smith with files from BICS student Joel Wright
