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When I was a student at ACS in the 90s, our main annual fundraiser was Park-a-Thon. We raised money from members of the community, then spent a day in the spring cleaning local parks after the long winter. Most years were freezing cold. Some had to be rescheduled because of rain. I always went home with blisters from raking heavy, wet leaves. But I also had a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I had helped to make our area parks a more beautiful place.  By the time my daughter started as a student at ACS, Park-a-Thon was complemented by Walk-a-Thon for our youngest fundraisers. Donors pledged by the lap, and students walked circles around the gym to earn money for our school. For the past seven years, ACS students have been participating in a different kind of “thon” fundraiser, taking pledges from family and friends to raise money for Project Luke 9: Feeding the Future. In cooperation with Lifeline Christian Mission, we’ve been able to pack, seal, and ship over 130,000 meals over the past seven years! Meals are sent to hungry children, both overseas and right here locally. Each meal is shelf-stable, rice-based, and contains vitamins, plant-based proteins, dehydrated vegetables and nutrients that fulfill about 75% of a child’s daily requirement for a healthy diet. For some children, the meal they receive from this vital ministry is the only one they’ll have all day. Lifeline is a Christian organization that meets more than just the physical needs of its meal recipients. While the monies raised from our fundraiser are devoted to meals, Lifeline also plants churches and schools, provides microloans and business mentorships, offers Biblical training to local pastors, and provides hygiene and disease-prevention education. We’re honored to work alongside this ministry that strives to be the hands and feet of Jesus while sharing the gospel worldwide. So how does a fundraiser like this support our school? PL9 is designed to first raise money to provide meals for children in third-world countries and right here in our local community. When people donate, the funds are used to purchase ingredients, pack meals, and cover the cost of shipping them to children in need. Any money collected that exceeds the cost of the meals, shipping, administrative expenses, and fundraiser incentives will stay directly in our school. These funds are specifically allocated toward our capital expansion project, called the Cafetorium. (You can read all about this much-needed addition to our school here.) Additionally, a portion of the funds raised by secondary students is set aside in an account for them to use toward a ministry/discipleship opportunity during their senior year. This fundraiser not only helps children around the world and in our community but also contributes to the growth of our school, giving students an impactful way to participate in a global cause while preparing for future service opportunities. PL9 has been such a blessing to our school over the years. Students watch videos from Lifeline that explain the need, opening their eyes to not only the needs of other children worldwide, but also blessings we take for granted every day. (Ask your elementary students about dirt cookies!) It’s so exciting to see students eager to serve others. Our packing party allows them to do this in a tangible way.  Each class comes down to the gym, suits up with hair nets and hand sanitizer, then takes their place on the assembly line. Students are able to scoop rice, protein supplements, vitamin powder, and dehydrated vegetables, pour them through a funnel into a bag, weigh each bag to ensure even portions, then seal them with a heat press (with assistance from parent volunteers, teachers, and high school students). Kids love to see the growing piles of finished meals and know that they have been an active part of providing meals for hungry kids!  Though this is our biggest fundraiser of the year, recent participation has been low. In 2024, 52% of ACS families got involved as fundraisers and raised $127,848 with the help of generous corporate sponsors. Can you imagine the number of meals we could provide, and the amount of money we could put toward our Cafetorium if all of our families got involved? Please join us this year in making a meaningful difference in the lives of hungry children while also raising funds for our expansion needs.
"But Jesus said, 'You feed them' . . . Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven and blessed them." (Luke 9:13a, 16a) Comments are closed.
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