Rachel Wheeler, Food For The Poor Help Build 27 Homes In Haiti

When 12-year-old Rachel Wheeler was greeted with songs and praise in the Haitian village she helped develop, she felt satisfied. But, she also decided in that moment on her next pressing philanthropic project to pursue.

The budding humanitarian plans to raise money to construct a school for kids who lost theirs in the 2010 earthquake, FoodForThePoor.org reports.

"You can't just sit around and think about doing it," Rachel told the Miami Herald. "You got to actually get out there and do it."

The Zion Lutheran School sixth grader first learned about the extreme destitution Haiti's residents face when she attended a Food For The Poor meeting in 2009 with her mom. When Rachel heard that the kids eat mud cookies and live in cardboard houses because they're so poor, she vowed to help make a difference, NBC reports.

"Rachel didn't just want to help," her mother, Julie, told the news outlet, "but she said she had to help."

Rachel partnered with Food For The Poor, an international relief organization that feeds 2 million impoverished people daily. The then 9-year-old committed to raising enough money to build 12 homes in a small village just outside of Port-au-Prince.

Rachel collected funds by organizing bake sales, passing a donation can at homecoming games and selling homemade potholders at her Deerfield Beach, Fla. school, according to NBC. She turned to her parents' friends and her church for help and the Lighthouse Point Chamber of Commerce sent two substantial checks her way.

In just three years, her fundraising efforts surpassed $250,000, enough to erect 27 concrete two-room homes. Each is equipped with an area for beds and a living space, CBS reports.

The area was dubbed "Rachel's Village."

"Little children will lead us and teach us how to do things," Robin Mahfood, President and CEO for Food For The Poor, told the news outlet. "It is amazing. She is a tremendous girl."

Rachel intends to continue to lead the way by rebuilding a local school that was devastated in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2010, according to Food For The Poor. The school's 250 students currently attend classes in a shabby one-room structure that frequently floods.

"I want to build a school because they need education to make their lives better so they can learn and teach their own children how to have a better life," Rachel told the nonprofit.

Rachel has hit the halfway mark in her fundraising efforts for building the school in Leogane, according to NBC, and is determined to reach her goal.

"I don't believe I can snap my fingers and change Haiti overnight," she told NBC. "I know I have to work at it."

Want to help Rachel's cause? Donate here or mail your tax-deductible donation to Food For The Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073. Make checks payable to "Food For The Poor" and include the special source code "SC# 80982."

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Comments

[Lucybird0896]

10:44 PM on 01/26/2012

Well, that's great. But, really, American poor people that are starving don't matter??? You always get these reports of people taking care of other countries. Think of ours once! She can just live there if that country matters more.

[kcampese]

11:38 AM on 01/14/2012

This a fine charity that you can help by donating a car to them at http://www.cars4charities.org/.

[Samantha Knapp]

12:51 PM on 11/16/2011

Good job kid! The children are our future and she is a bright spot! :)

[lynn fales]

06:22 PM on 11/15/2011

AWESOME LITTLE GIRL

[jameslecomte]

05:50 PM on 11/15/2011

We need more youth like Rachel. She saw a problem and instead of taking the easy way and ignoring it, as so many people do these days, she decided to do something about it. It is wonderful to see that the next generation has some quality people to become our leaders and take care of our great country.

[Peyton JasniewiczDorry]

07:24 PM on 11/15/2011

That money should of helped our country

[horsecrazyxl]

11:05 PM on 11/15/2011

Great idea. Make a goal and work towards it, raise money for something you're passionate about and go for it. She did what she wanted with the money she worked hard to raise. Everyone can follow in her steps.

[Lucybird0896]

10:45 PM on 01/26/2012

Yes!!!!

[Adam Dray]

05:32 PM on 11/15/2011

Good job kid!! There's people twice your age that can't even find a job! Perhaps you should go talk to the OWS people and give them some advice!

[fixitguy331]

05:27 PM on 11/15/2011

To those that disapprove of where this little girl is donating the money she raises.....Get out there and raise some money on your own...Then you can give it wherever you see fit.
Kudos to her for thinking of others first.

[MORAL SOLUTION]

05:22 PM on 11/15/2011

MONEY just hurts the "poor" more. Money is not the cure. The answer is a shift in philosophies (which is free) and keeping one's pants on when dirt broke (which is free). In other words, sanity does not need a price tag. ALL energy should be placed on the “cause” and stop toying with the “effects.”

[narwhalmagic]

05:31 PM on 11/15/2011

Are you offering free pants?

[jameslecomte]

05:59 PM on 11/15/2011

You’re right! Let them eat mud cookies! Let them live in a cardboard shack that will be destroyed in the next storm! Get a grip. I agree that the cause should be addressed, but to ignore people’s basic needs is wrong. If you feel so strongly about this I hope that you, like Rachel, are doing what you feel needs to be done to rectify the current problem.

[feistyredheadct]

05:18 PM on 11/15/2011

Now maybe she can help the people in her OWN country. Geez

[MORAL SOLUTION]

05:25 PM on 11/15/2011

When people help other countries when their own Neighbor is needy, what do we call this?

[narwhalmagic]

05:28 PM on 11/15/2011

Yeah, that kid needs to get her priorities straight. (R U SERIOUS?!)

[mshrug]

05:18 PM on 11/15/2011

...can I have a house too?

[Camille Mauro]

05:03 PM on 11/15/2011

I hope she does this as a life choice in addition to whatever else she decides to do with her life.

[ABROSE]

04:49 PM on 11/15/2011

I am disappointed in all of the negative comments written after reading this story. What ever happened to helping all mankind? Are we only supposed to help those in need if they live in the same country? What's next? Will they have to live in the same state? community? home?? I have sent donations to causes all over the world including the United States. I have also done volunteer work in my home state and I am disappointed in myself for not doing more after reading this story. This young girl is amazing and should be an inspiration to us all.

[Ying Kamolthip]

10:22 PM on 07/09/2012

I agree with you.

[livingbettertherapy]

04:46 PM on 11/15/2011

Good example to all of us. If you think you can't do anything to change the world, think again.

[morning697]

04:39 PM on 11/15/2011

Even if the young girl only raised $100 I would say "OUTSTANDING!!" since I usually see most young kids pre-occupied with themselves. This was a breath of fresh air. However--not to be a party pooper, I just can't fathom the amount of money she raised by just bake sales and passing the can at one football game (homecoming) a year. I've done charitable fundraising like bake sales and car washes and I doubt that amount of money can be raised on a part-time basis(remember she's still in school) plus she's halfway toward her goal of a new school.. I think Mom and Dad are heavily involved(which is even greater) but they're shying away from the publicity. So kudos to them also!!

[goncrazi]

06:43 PM on 11/15/2011

The Chamber of Commerce where she lives donated a rather large sum of money - twice. She hit up the businesses in town for direct donations. It wasn't all from bake sales and passing the boot. She got busy and pounded the pavement.

[Blind Logic]

04:33 PM on 11/15/2011

Kudos, Miss. You are an example of what humanity *should* be. May Mother Freya bless you.