Saint Matthew School student members of the Entrepreneurial Program present a donation to the Central PA Humane Society from the profits earned by their business. Pictured are Rian McManigal, Kenndy Shaffer, Teacher Miss Lily Smith, Elyana Hewitt, CPHS Volunteer Coordinator Hannah Plummer, Lucy Hawthorne and Nadia Jeffries. Courtesy photo

From a class discussion on starting a business to having actual profit to donate has been an amazing ride for the students involved in Tyrone’s Saint Matthew School’s Entrepreneurial Program.

When the members of the student-run business The Rescue Aid decided to develop a brick-and-mortar Christmas store, they knew it would be a challenging process.

“We knew from the other projects we had done that it takes a lot of hard work to be successful,” said Nadia Jeffries, CEO of the student company. “It was really interesting to find out all the different parts there are in a business and getting them to work together.”

The student-run company had to acquire financial backing, select and order products and develop a marketing campaign and store decor in addition to working as cashiers, clerks and gift wrappers.

“Once we put it all together things went great. We also made good product choices and sold out of almost everything,” said CFO Elyana Hewitt. “What took a lot of time was filling out inventory sheets and marking all the items that we sold and what was left over in order to calculate our profit.”

After researching several local charities, the students voted to support the Central Pa. Humane Society.

Fifth grader Hewitt has been a member of the student business since fourth grade. She said she was happy to be able to donate the funds to help the animals at the humane society.

“Animals can’t take care of themselves, so they need people like us to help them out,” Jeffries said.

“After we paid back our loan, the interest and other expenses, we earned $321.53 in profit to send to the Humane Society,” said Lucy Hawthorne, public relations specialist for the company.

First-year members of the board of directors Kennedy Shaffer and Rian McManigal enjoyed the new experience.

“I learned a lot about money and how things work when we studied capitalism and economics,” Shaffer said.

“Making posters and commercials to advertise was my favorite part,” McManigal added.

“Having all this fun and still being able to help someone else is the best. It is a chance to live our life as Jesus has told us to do,” Hewitt said.

Photos of this and other service projects completed by The Rescue Aid, including their fall lunch for first responders, can be viewed on the school’s Facebook page.

“Now we’re creating games for a spring family fun night at the school. Running our business is the best,” Jeffries said.