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Eight-year-old raises $4,137 to help feed the hungry By DAMIAN MANN Just because she's only 8 years old doesn't mean Brittney Johnson can't do big things. In slightly more than a month, this Medford girl has raised $4,137 that will be used to help feed the poor in Jackson County this Christmas. After watching a recent television show about people in America going hungry, Brittney said, "I cried when I saw them." Throughout her life she has never wanted for food. "I've never had to think of that," she said. "My mother always fed me. I never had that feeling of going hungry." While Brittney was watching the show, her mother, Cheryl Johnson, was cleaning out the the refrigerator, prompting Brittney to realize they were wasting food. The sight of so many people going without food caused the 8-year-old to set her goals high. She decided to raise $5,400 to purchase enough canned food to fill a semi-truck that would be delivered to her church, Table Rock Fellowship, by Dec. 22. When she approached the church about her idea, Brittney recalled that "they were very shocked that an eight-year-old girl could do it." With the support of the church and her mother, she began the fund-raising effort, called "Plant a Seed," on Sept. 22. Her mother said raising money locally is all the more important because of the many charitable donations now heading to New York City following the Sept. 11 attacks. "We have a lot of people in this area who live in tents," said Cheryl Johnson. "It's a national tragedy that people in this country are so hungry." Even in her own church, Johnson said there are people who hunt for elk and deer because that is their only source of meat, not because it is a sport. To raise the money, mother and daughter have fashioned their own Christmas cards, selling for $2.25 each. Brittney is hoping to raise the entire $5,400 by Nov. 22, the deadline for ordering 22 pallets, each with 144 cases of nonperishable items. When the truck arrives, the food will be placed in the church pantry and then handed out to the poor as needed. People who need the food will be required to fill out a form, but Johnson said, "If you're hungry we'll feed you." The Christmas cards are on sale at the church, Crafter's Market and Precision Hair Design in Medford, Sissy's Cafe in Phoenix, and Figaro's Italian Kitchen in Talent. With just over a $1,000 left to raise, Brittney said, "We're that close to being there" Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail dmann@mailtribune.com |
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