At WCS, we equip our students to be Christian leaders, lifelong learners, and Christian servants.
A beloved annual fundraising drive to benefit impoverished children in the Western Hemisphere continued for its 25th year at WCS in 2022-2023. During the spring semester, students from kindergarten through the senior class collected spare change in specially designed water bottles to benefit underprivileged orphans in the Western Hemisphere. This year’s bottles were designed by our third graders in this voluntary outreach for WCS students and families.
HISTORY
Westbury Christian Middle School and High School Bible Teacher and Middle School Girls’ Basketball Coach Steve Hawley spearheaded the collection which originated in Lebanon, Tennessee at Friendship Christian School in 1995.
Coach Hawley with WCS Kindergartners ’22-23 showing their new water bottles for coin collection.
Honduras has a special place in Coach Hawley’s heart. His first mission trip to Honduras occurred in July 1998, weeks before his arrival at WCS. A few months later in October, Hurricane Mitch devastated Honduras and the project was introduced to the Westbury family. The change receptacles evolved from used drink containers to Powerade bottles to unique bank bottles donated by a generous WCS family. For twenty years, this family supplied WCS students with bottles, which include the WCS crest, logos of the partnering charities, and James 1:27, the theme verse for the program. All 21 coin bottles are on display, tied into a mural commemorating these efforts, in Coach Hawley’s classroom.
MISSION LAZARUS HOPE FOR HAITI’S CHILDREN
The funds raised at WCS provides support to two nonprofit Christian organizations: Mission Lazarus, a holistic ministry focused on community development in Honduras through spiritual, educational, medical and agricultural outreaches; and Hope for Haiti’s Children, which utilizes in-country educators and professionals to nurture, educate and train poverty-bound Haitian children to become spiritual leaders. As in recent years, WCS has chosen to support the Hope for Haiti’s Children school lunch program. “The children at these schools are fed lunch every day. For some kids, this is the only meal they will get so this is incredibly vital,” says Coach Hawley. Mission Lazarus earmarks the WCS contribution towards a different need annually: one year, our donation purchased a pickup truck for the orphanage. This school year, the total donation was $9,149.65 divided between Hope For Haiti’s Children and Mission Lazarus. As always, the change was sorted and counted by WCS students. “The thing I am most…I hate to use the word proud… but the thing I am most proud of as a teacher and a coach is that we’ve been able to keep this project going for 25 years.” says Coach Hawley.
“We are so grateful to the students at Westbury Christian for their compassion, generosity, and prayers for the children in Haiti. Since 2010, they have raised thousands of dollars through their coin collection campaign to help feed the hungry and care for the needs of the orphaned children at the Cazeau Christian School and Orphanage. Thank you, Westbury, for spreading God’s love to the children in Haiti – you are making an eternal difference!! Your 2023 gift will pay for 12,000 meals! This will feed all 400 students at the Cazeau Christian School (grades K-10th) a school lunch every day for one month! For many, this is the only meal that they eat that day. Again, we are so grateful!”
Tonya Hunt, Vice President, Hope For Haiti’s Children
“The partnership between Westbury Christian School and Mission Lazarus that’s held strong for over a decade is special, across two countries. Our 7th grade students make the cross necklaces in their carpentry class and it goes a long way in helping them learn more about the importance of precision in cutting and finishing wood. Then at WCS, the gift of a cross necklace to all newly enrolled students goes a long ways as well, reinforcing a culture from day one for a new student. The subsequent donation of the proceeds from the coin drive is an investment directly back into our ministry in Honduras and the Mission Lazarus Refuge children’s home. Some of the residents of the home are the same students helping to make the cross necklaces every year. Proof that an intentional simple idea can have a far reaching impact, even an eternal one. Thank you WCS!”
Jarrod Brown, President, Co-founder Mission Lazarus
To learn more about the benefiting organizations, visit missionlazarus.org and hopeforhaitischildren.org.