5-year-old raising $5,000 to buy ‘ark’ of animals

Published 10:36 am Thursday, October 2, 2008

When 5-year-old Julia Crumb recently saw a gift catalog listing an animal “ark” available for purchase that would donate animals to people around the globe, she knew she had a goal. And she has been pursuing that goal since Thanksgiving.

She didn’t really notice the hefty cost, she just knew that she wanted to help as many people as possible.

So, at an age when most children are still learning the basics of arithmetic, Julia began the process of fund raising to pay the $5,000 price tag for an ark. Each ark has pairs of about 15 types of animals that are distributed through Heifer International to those in need, promoting self-reliance for families around the world.

The young North Bend resident has already raised more than $1,300.

“It would help more people than just a few animals [would] and that’s how I decided,” Julia explained.

The shy, but well-spoken kindergartner at Snoqualmie Elementary School, who wants to be a swimming instructor when she grows up, began propositioning family and community members for donations, making ornaments to sell at school craft fairs and collecting money from her parents for chores she did around the house.

This makes you realize that a young person can make a difference, her mother Lynn said.

Julia keeps track of the donations on a large piece of paper cut in the shape of an ark that has equal-sized squares filling the page. The squares represent $50 increments and Julia colors one in each time she reaches a new amount. This is to help her to conceptualize how much money $5,000 really is, Lynn explained, since some of the more abstract concepts about money may be a bit difficult for a 5-year-old to fully grasp.

“She was pretty determined,” said her father Michael, a fourth-grade teacher at Snoqualmie Elementary School. “It doesn’t surprise me – she’s a good-hearted girl.”

Heifer International, a nonprofit global organization that has been around since 1944, is dedicated to giving families in more than 125 countries and 38 states the means to become self-reliant through food- and income-producing farm animals and renewable resources. The charity gives self-sustaining training and materials to help families help themselves.

It’s the ripple effect, Lynn said, describing it as one gift that turns into many more.

The catalog offers symbolic contributions to purchase a share of – or the whole of – various farm animals and materials,such as beehives and trees for firewood, fencing and windbreaks at prices ranging from $10 to more than $1,000.

Donations are distributed by Heifer to those areas and people that would most benefit from the contributions.

Heifer International’s Gift Ark is featured at $5,000 and provides an animal menagerie of twos featuring sheep, two trios of rabbits, pigs, oxen, goats, beehives, two flocks of geese, two flocks of chicks, two trios of guinea pigs, water buffalo, cows, two trios of ducks, donkeys, camels and llamas for use around the world in places such as Uganda, Thailand, Romania, Mexico, China, Honduras, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and the United States.

A single ark will assist at least 30 families globally.

The price includes the purchase and transport of the animals and the training and support for the recipients.

Last year, Julia’s family had purchased an animal in the name of Julia’s grandmother, who requested that she not receive any items for Christmas.

When Julia saw the catalog that came this year, it was a familiar idea to her, her mother explained, noting that doing charitable things is a long-standing tradition at the Crumb household.

Like many things with children, Lynn thought that Julia’s initial interest might diminish after time, but “it kept coming back,” she said.

“It was a surprise, but obviously we were proud of her,” Michael said.

So Julia, along with her younger brother Jackson, her mother and father, began making posters and ornaments, writing speeches and thank-you cards, doing chores, calling family and friends and thinking up various ways to raise money.

Along with helping people, Julia is learning about animals, geography, people in different countries and their ways of life, poverty and social action, Lynn said. She has also been learning about culture, money and responsibility, even setting up her own bank account for the fund raising, where she helps to make the deposits.

Julia has also learned about other children, churches and schools that have raised money for the ark and other animal contributions.

“I hope that we do make the goal,” Lynn said, noting that there is no timeline for when the money needs to be raised. “You feel like you can make a difference.

“We’re just pacing ourselves … As long as she’s enthusiastic [we will continue to raise funds],” she added. “If we need to take a break, we’ll take a break.”

The highest donation has been about $100, Michael said, adding that any amount is welcome and appreciated.

Julia doesn’t know how long it will take to raise the money, but she is OK with that.

For the time being, she has no desire to stop and the extra time commitment is worth it, she said.

Those in need don’t want to die, Julia said. The milk, eggs and the rabbits all help, she said.

“They feel happy; they have more money,” she added, noting that she also feels good about helping others.

Julia’s next fund-raising activity will be to make Valentine’s Day treats, cards and crafts. Those interested in learning more may contact Michael via e-mail at michaelcrumb@yahoo.com.

Donations are accepted at any Washington Mutual through “Julia Crumb’s Ark Fund” or by mailing contributions to Washington Mutual, North Bend Financial Center, P.O. Box 836, North Bend, WA 98045. Call (425) 888-2500, extension 3 for more information. There is no current deadline for accepted donations.

For information on Heifer International, call (800) 698-2511 or (800) 422-0474 or visit www.heifer.org.