Kids fight poverty with bees

Children in the After School Program operated by the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities held bake sales, collected pennies, threw pizza parties, held disco dances, sold Bit O’ Honey candy, hired themselves out for chores, and undertook a variety of other activities to raise $2,000 to purchase bees, bee hives and beekeeper […]

April 29, 2009; 2:34 PM • by FTRea

The children in the program presented the check to a representative of Heifer International at a ceremony Tues., Apr. 28, at Clark Springs Elementary School. This unique gift will provide an income for approximately 67 struggling families through the sale of honey, beeswax and pollen. In addition, through pollination, the bees have the potential to double agricultural yields and transform the health and economy of an entire community.

Heifer International is a non-profit with the mission to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. Since 1944, the organization has helped millions of people around the world through training in livestock development and gifts that multiply.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities provides recreation and leisure programs, parks, and facilities for the City of Richmond to enhance quality of life. Its After School Program was established by City Council to assist children in kindergarten through fifth grade with reading, academic, and self-improvement activities every day after school.

The program is provided at no charge at 21 sites throughout the City. Currently 879 children are enrolled.

– The information above was provided by Christy Everson, (804) 646-5944, with the City of Richmond