Life

Saint Matthew’s student-run business aids backpack program

Members of a student-run business at Tyrone's Saint Matthew School chose to collect food for the Golden Eagle Backpack Program.

"We wanted to help people who were hungry and when we found out it was kids just like us, we picked that as our first service project," said Kennedy Shaffer, chief financial officer.

"It was hard to believe that 120 kids in preschool through fourth grade needed food to eat on the weekend," said Rian McManigal, who serves as the chief executive officer. "That's why we set a goal to collect 120 each of the eight different kinds of food Mrs. (Amy) Shanafelt said they could use, so we could fill all those backpacks for one weekend."

Created as a service product company, The Rescue Aid follows a company mission of helping others who are in need to have a better life.

"As a service product company, these young entrepreneurs manage all aspects related to the business, the difference being that the profit is not to increase their personal wealth, but to benefit others," said advisor Steve Stoner. "Every other aspect of what they do follows a true business model from completing a course on economics and capitalism, developing a business plan, setting budgets, designing and creating marketing, and soliciting investors and donations."

The company's choice to help the Backpack program provided the opportunity to learn about the important concept of marketing.

Third grader Joseph Davis helped Shaffer and McManigal design flyers and two collection displays.

"Making the boxes to collect the food and the big sign was so much fun," Davis said. "It must have worked because we got a lot of food donated."

A video team composed of Jade Campbell, LB Hawthorne and Ryleigh Musselman wrote and produced a commercial that was broadcast on the school's Facebook page.

"It was hard to write the script and make sure we told everybody about how they could help," Musselman said, "but doing the filming was really funny."

Donations of eight specific food items were solicited from members of the school family and the Saint Matthew Church community.

With the conclusion of the project last week, the next step of inventorying all of the food donated took several days.

"I didn't know we would have to do more work, but sorting, counting, and double checking our inventory sheets for all of the food stuff was neat," Hawthorne said.

"Everybody was so excited when we saw that we passed our goal and got over four times the food we needed," Campbell added.

Classroom teacher Lily Smith said she was amazed by the students' enthusiasm and willingness to work together.

"In addition, they were using complex skills in mathematics, writing, social studies and design without realizing how much they were learning," Smith said.

Shanafelt, who serves as the Golden Eagle Backpack program co-director, accepted the donations from the students, who loaded over 2,624 servings of food into her van.

"Our whole program relies on community support and coming together to help the kids in need. When people like these young students make donations, it allows us to continue to do the mission of the program." Shanafelt said.

She explained that as part of the Northern Blair Backpack Program, the local site provides food to both Tyrone and Bellwood students.

"Since communicating with the Saint Matthew students, our Tyrone numbers have grown to 121 and in Bellwood we service 107 students. I am very impressed that students of this age are thinking of how they can be of service to the community. The mission of their business supports our mission and makes a great partnership," Shanafelt said.

"Jesus asks us to be thankful for what we have and to help others," Shaffer said. "It feels really good that what we did will fill backpacks for four weekends."

Community members and organizations can support the Northern Blair Backpack program by emailing NBbackpacks4kids@gmail.com or mailing donations to NBBPP, PO Box 255, Tipton, PA 16684, or finding links and more pictures on the Saint Matthew School Tyrone Facebook page.