GLENDO – Worldwide, 385 million children live in extreme poverty, according to an analysis from the World Bank Group and UNICEF. But some students in Glendo hope to put at least a small dent into the problem.
Twenty-six Glendo School students in kindergarten through seventh-grade are getting sponsors to help on a read-a-thon with the money they raise going toward purchasing animals though ChildFund International to help provide nutrition for starving children and families in many different countries.
“They’ve set a goal of how many hours they are going to read in a two-week period,” said Amy Pindell, the kindergarten and first-grade teacher at the school who was the brainchild behind the idea. “Their sponsors pay either by the hour that they read or pay a flat fee. When the students bring in all the money that they’ve raised, they will sit down and look at what animals they can purchase.”
ChildFund International is an independent development organization that works for the well-being of children worldwide, assisting more than 19 million children and family members in 29 nations.

The Virginia-based organization boasts it has provided nearly $3 billion in services to children since its founding in 1938, with most of the funding coming from individual contributors through monthly child sponsorships.
In 2016, the organization provided $211.4 million in program services for children, including better access to nutrition, health care and education.
Emily Pindell, a first-grade student, at first exclaimed she was going to read 1,000 books during the read-a-thon, but then backed off and said her goal was to read for 14 hours.
“I like it and I’m glad we’re going to help people who don’t have stuff,” she said.
Remington Schieel, who is also a first-grade student, said the opportunity to help people in need is “cool.” He also as a goal of reading for 14 hours.
“I’m going to read lots of books,” Schieel said. “For people who don’t have food, we have to help them.”
Individuals wishing to sponsor a student can call the school at (307) 735-4471.