Feed 18,000 Needy People? A Five-Year-Old Could Do It

When Phoebe Russell set out to tackle her preschool teacher’s assignment to perform a community service project, she set herself a goal she called "really big." It was so big, in fact, that Kathleen Albert, her teacher at With Care Preschool, had to explain that raising $1,000 for the San Francisco Food Bank by collecting and redeeming cans "might be a bit ambitious for a five-year-old."

But Phoebe — in the way that awesome kids do — plowed ahead with her plans. She was determined to help people who needed food. When she called the food bank to ask whether her idea could work, they told her that $1,000 could help feed thousands.

The food bank supplements donors’ contributions with resources from growers, packers, manufacturers, grocers and the USDA, so that every dollar donated can provide $9 worth of food for those in need. The food is distributed through 600 community programs in youth centers, supportive housing, public schools, senior centers and other organizations throughout San Francisco.

Ms. Albert helped Phoebe write a letter to With Care’s "extended family" of alumni asking them to pitch in, both with donations of cans and matching cash gifts. This letter is so cute I couldn’t have made up anything more perfect:

Donations began pouring in. People left bags full of cans on the school’s front steps. Others sent checks. A local reporter mentioned the project in his column, and checks began arriving from people Phoebe didn’t even know. All the while, Phoebe herself kept collecting. Every Thursday, she counted her quarry and, as a part of the assignment meant to encourage confidence and pride in her success, she called several people, including the staff of the food bank, to let them know about her progress.

The community service project is a requirement for every graduating class of With Care preschoolers heading off to kindergarten. Ms. Albert, who owns the school, finds that it opens young eyes to some of the problems in the world, but also empowers the children to understand that they can help.

"I think it is very important to teach children to give back to the community," Albert said. "I see so many adults who walk around and have no idea of that. It doesn’t matter your wealth, you can still give back. It teaches kids that small donations can add up to big donations."

There are many ways that the kids at her school do their part. The prior year, the graduating class of four students organized a lemonade stand and raised $900 for the food bank. The only child graduating this year, Phoebe, outstripped the previous class’s efforts.

Last Thursday, Paul Ash, the Executive Director of the food bank, visited With Care to receive her donation check for $3,736 (see a video of the event here). Applied to the food bank’s impressive network, Phoebe’s gift translates into $33,624 worth of food, or enough to provide 17,971 meals.

Its special circumstances make this gift meaningful for the food bank. "We get many gifts of this size, but with this one it’s a real emotional boost," said Mr. Ash. "I’m going to be speaking to a bunch of lawyers tonight, and I’m going to tell them about her. I’ll say, ‘If Phoebe Russell, five years old, can raise $3,700, we as adults can do more than we’re doing.’"

With support from donors like Phoebe, the food bank is on track to distribute 33 million pounds of food this year, half of which will be fresh produce. And now Phoebe knows that her own ideas can make a "really big" impact. When she told Mr. Ash she was amazed that strangers had sent her donations, he encouraged her to imagine all the strangers her efforts will feed.

"It’s a nice chain of people who don’t know each other helping each other," he said. "It makes us feel that our goal of ending hunger in San Francisco is something we can deliver on."

With this amazing five-year-old on their side, I have no doubt.

(Photos from top to bottom: Phoebe displaying her project box, by Madeline Pfeiffer. The letter Phoebe wrote to drum up support, courtesy of Phoebe Russell. Phoebe counting her donations, by Madeline Pfeiffer. Phoebe delivering her donation to Paul Ash, courtesy of the San Francisco Food Bank.)