Faith: Clovis Christian bringing Feed the Need to area

Courtesy photo: The Champion Group

Children in Kenya receive meals provided through The Champion Group’s Feed the Need fundraiser, which Clovis Christian Schools will launch in New Mexico for the first time on Monday.

Staff Writer

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Clovis Christian Schools will set a precedent on Monday when it brings the Feed the Need campaign to New Mexico for the first time.

Feed the Need is a fundraiser offered through The Champion Group, a company that conducts various fundraising events for schools, ministries and organizations around the U.S. and Canada. The goal of Feed the Need is to provide meals to children in impoverished or developing countries, including Haiti, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Bangladesh.

Although the company — based in Birmingham, Alabama — has conducted events in 48 states, The Champion Group Vice President Edna Wilson said Clovis Christian Schools is the first to bring Feed the Need to New Mexico.

“Our goal would be to have it in all 50 states,” Wilson said. “We have found an event that allows these schools to raise funds and do something for a mission. We think it’s the perfect blend to benefit that school in Clovis, New Mexico, and also touch a Third World country.”

After almost a year of planning, Clovis Christian will launch its six-week fundraising campaign at 6:30 p.m. on Monday with an ice cream social to introduce students, parents and faculty to Feed the Need.

According to Advancement and Support Services Director Chad Patton, the school hopes to raise $100,000 — enough to purchase, pack, and ship 10,000 meals for children of Haiti during the school’s Nov. 8 packing party.

With safe food handling equipment, participants will package dry goods that will then be vacuum-sealed and sent overseas. When cooked with boiling water, the packets become a healthy meal consisting of rice, soy protein and vegetables — fortified with a vitamin blend made for malnourished children.

“It’s sort of a win-win,” Patton said, “in that our students get to work on a project that does something for other people, as well as a fundraiser for the school as well.”

Patton said any money raised beyond the goal will go to Clovis Christian for needs such as computers, sporting equipment and the new high school.

The ice cream social and fundraising is open to anyone in the community. Patton said he expects a couple hundred people to participate in Feed the Need, but the goal is for everyone to get involved.

“We want our students here not to just intellectually know about Christianity and God,” Patton said. “We want them to have opportunities to use their faith and do things for other people.”

To kick off the fundraising, participants will receive a link to create their own online donation pages. In addition, the school is planning various fundraising events, including a parents’ night, a dance and an alumni basketball game.

But ultimately, Patton said it’s not about the money.

“The main thing of this for us is we want our students to think outside of themselves,” he said. “We want them to have a goal, ambition and something they’re helping other people with. That really is the thrust of this thing.”

Clovis Christian Schools Principal Linda D’Amour called the Feed the Need event “thrilling” for both students and staff.

“We are so excited because it’s a chance to take care of other people before we worry about ourselves,” D’Amour said. “How often do kids in New Mexico get to help that many children and families in Haiti? This gives us an avenue to do that.”