COURTLAND
There’ll soon be many more chickens in Mbyo, Rwanda, thanks to this newspaper and, more notably, the efforts of Sunday School students at Courtland Baptist Church.

Jack Randall, a congregation member and teacher, said he recently brought to his class of fifth- and sixth-graders an article that appeared in The Tidewater News about Nancy Strachan and her organization, Rwandan HUGS Inc. (“Newsoms native leads charge to help Rwandans” by Walter Francis Jr. on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015). The program encourages agriculture, education and small business development to the people of that African nation.

The students and teacher were talking about missions, and evidently impressed by what they read, the children decided to help Rwanda HUGS.

Randall credits Charlotte Fowler for coming up with a meal fundraiser called “Chicken for Chickens” as a way to raise money.

“The kids thought it was the funniest thing,” Randall added.

Ultimately, they raised $1,600.65, and presented the check to Strachan during a dinner on Monday in the church fellowship hall.

She was visibly moved, and hugged several of the children in gratitude for what they accomplished.

“This will buy 160 chickens and one feather,” Strachan told everyone present.

Audrey Gagner of the Women’s Mission Union of the church said that group will also make a donation later.

“It’s not over tonight,” she said, noting that this is the sixth year that Courtland Baptist has partnered with Strachan and her organization.

Speaking later to the newspaper via email, she said the money “will all be given to Mbyo Peace and Reconciliation Village’s Angel School feeding program. There are approximately 130 children in school and we have only 40 chickens in the poultry project at this time. The additional chickens will help us purchase chickens and chicken feed to substantially increase the flock.”

To learn more, visit www.rwandanhugs.com; call 540-586-4446; or email Rwandanhugs@aol.com.