Students team up to make difference for kids in Haiti

Campaign called Feed The Need sends meals to hungry children

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – More than 300 students at Bethany Christian School in Fort Lauderdale teamed up to make a difference for kids in Haiti. It's all part of a campaign called Feed The Need.

"This is where we are going to be packing over 10,000 meals for hungry kids in Haiti," said Marne MacPhee, director of communications for the school.

Roughly 100,000 Haitian kids under the age of 5 suffer from malnutrition. It's a fact not lost on the Bethany students who packed rice, soybeans and other vitamin-rich foods. From toddlers to tweens, everyone got involved.

"I just hope that they enjoy it and I am glad that I can help them," said Madison Barrett, 13.

"And I know that with God's help, they can become a great nation, we just need to aid them," said Kevin Carlstedt, 11.

All the students at Bethany are helping to feed the need a number of different ways.

"We're also doing a school supplies drive for the children in Haiti through Mission of Hope," MacPhee said. "Also this year we are doing this initiative where the kids in our school are going to become pen pals with these 62 orphans."

Next spring, a group of Bethany students will be going on a mission trip to Haiti to meet the kids who'll be receiving the meals. The visit will bring Friday's event full circle.

"We want them to feel special about doing something that is not for themselves. For thinking about other kids," MacPhee said.

Local 10 News viewers can also get involved and Feed The Need. To make a monetary donation, text BOBCAT to 71777. To donate school supplies, call the school at 954-522-2554. Bethany Christian School is at 880 S. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

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