Students stage Epic Brunch to help others
EDUCATION
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT WRITER
Seventh graders Kyra White and Blair Congdon have been working towards delivering an ark, and they are hoping to raise the rest of the money for that purpose this Saturday.

ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Nantucket New School students Blair Congdon (left) and Kyra White, with teacher and advisor Chris Getoor, hope to float their "ark" through a successful Saturday brunch.

White, who is 12, and Congdon, 13, are Nantucket New School students who helped organize the Epic Brunch that will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the school at 15 Nobadeer Farm Road. It is being called "epic," they said, because "it's a big event and there's lots of things going on." Besides the food that will include Belgian waffles, bagels, eggs, fruit, coffee and juice, the brunch will also feature jazz, magic, and games.

The "ark" the students hope to purchase are real animals sent to poor families around the world through Heifer International, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating hunger through gifts of livestock. White and Congdon head up the global outreach arm of New School student government. Last year, students helped sponsor a child. This year, White and Congdon liked what they had learned about Heifer International. "It sounded like a pretty nice organization," Congdon said, while White said the nonprofit fit their interests well: "We both like to help people and we both like animals."

After students selected the charity, they set to work to figure out ways to raise money. For the "gift ark," $5,000 was needed. In the fall, students took part in a rake-a-thon; they sold cards over the holidays.

The brunch, to which they hope to draw 250 people, represents their major fundraising effort. The students said Parents Of Nantucket New School (PONNS), has been very supportive, as has the whole island with donations of everything from food to time. The food for the brunch, for example, will be cooked by Sean Collins, the head chef at Queequeg's.

Spanish teacher and faculty advisor Chris Getoor said the students are not only working to help others, but are learning through their involvement. "When you have an idea that includes brunch for 250 people, jazz music and a magician, and see it all come together . . . they're learning about the potential to make something happen."

Tickets for the brunch are $10 for students and $20 for adults and are available at the Nantucket New School, or by calling 228-8569. Arepresentative from Heiffer International will also give a presentation during the meal. All proceeds will directly benefit the nonprofit.

This is the second year Nantucket New School student government has worked on helping others through a global outreach program. The other facets of student government include on-island activism and school spirit.

White, Congdon and their fellow students will be busy between now and Saturday, selling tickets, making posters and preparing to serve as wait staff during the brunch. Afterwards, Congdon said, it will be interesting "to see how far we've come, and how well we've come together."

To learn more about Heifer

International, visit www.heifer.org. I