Be part of something great. “Project 190” will ensure the achievement of a needy child for a year.

Over the last three years, Piney Branch Elementary School has joined with the Mpambara-Cox Foundation (MCF) to support our partner school, Rushakyi Primary, in Kabale, Uganda. We have forged an ongoing relationship that culminated in my visit to the school in 2010. Many of you contributed to help make this trip a reality. I am imploring your support again on behalf of these students.

Consider this: A donation of only $40 (less than the cost of a family dinner out) will feed one child for the entire school year-190 days! “Project 190” will provide a hot cup of porridge to each student daily. For many, it is their only meal of the day. Here, during the holiday season, a warm meal and a basic education are two things that are too often taken for granted. With your help, we here at Piney Branch Elementary can provide these two foundations for success to those far less fortunate than we are. Our goal is to raise enough funds to support this school feeding program for another year. Without your immediate help this program could be terminated and students at our partner school could go hungry; many will drop out of school. The program has already been cut down to 3 days out of 5 due to lack of funding.

The smile on the faces of the students as they line up each morning for their nutritious porridge is a memory I will never forget. This program fights short-term hunger and builds the capacity of students to be able to concentrate on their school work. Education becomes more effective for those who stay in school, helping to lift people and their communities out of poverty. Parents see to it that their children attend school if they are assured of a meal, and the children learn more effectively while in class because their concentration levels are dramatically increased through adequate nutrition. Needless to say, this program produced dramatic improvement in student enrollment, attendance, health and achievement.

On my next trip to Africa, I would love to be able to look into the eyes of these eager boys and girls and tell them our Piney Branch students and families came through for their food program. We can do it together!

Thank you for your consideration and for your generous, tax-deductible donation to this most worth-while cause. Remember every dollar spent is an investment in a child’s future. You can check out the life-chainging work the Mpambara-Cox Foundation is doing at www.mcoxfoundation.org, or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcoxfoundation.

~Mr G.