5-Year-Old Empties Piggy Bank To Buy Milk For Classmate, Goes On To Raise Over $8,000

Kids are taught from a young age that milk is a necessary — and nutritious — addition to any meal. (Note: this has since been debunked. Read more here). As a result, 5-year-old Sunshine Oelfeke couldn’t help but notice that one of her classmates didn’t have milk during their daily snack time. Rather than embarrass her friend or ask an adult for clarification, Sunshine decided to take matters into her own hands.

Approximately two weeks ago, the young girls’ grandmother, Jackie Sue, spotted Sunshine emptying her piggy bank and counting the coins. After tallying up the total, she dumped all of the change into a plastic bag and tucked it into her backpack. Understandably, Jackie Sue was confused as to what the kindergartner had planned, as Sunshine had been saving up for a snowmobile for years. She soon learned, however, and the answer blew her away.

Credit: GoFundMe

When asked why she was taking the coins to school, Sunshine responded:

“I’m going to take it for milk money. I’m taking it for my friend Layla. She doesn’t get milk — her mom doesn’t have milk money and I do.”

Because of the compassionate intent, Sunshine was allowed to do with the money as she pleased. When Sunshine went to school the next day, she gave the coins to her kindergarten teacher. Reportedly, it totaled $30 after buying Layla’s milk. When Sunshine didn’t know until later is that there are 20 students in her class at Birchview Elementary School, located in Michigan. And, half of them cannot afford to buy $0.45 milk for snack time every day. The cost of ensuring every kid has milk at snack time is $180 per month. Thus, Sunshine hatched a new plan.

With the help of Jackie Sue, Sunshine started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the rest of the school year. News of Sunshine’s generosity has quickly spread, and now the campaign has generated more than $8,000! Said Jackie Sue:

“Sunshine is 5 and doesn’t grasp the concept of the HUGE impact she is making, but we all do. What she does understand, [is that] all her friends were able to get milk last week at school.”

“My heart is so full of pride and love knowing that in a world where there is so much hatred, there is a ray of Sunshine with a HUGE heart that – at the age of 5 – LOVES everyone and always wants to help,” she added.

Watch the heart-warming video below:

Sunshine’s story is further evidence that one is never too young or too old to make a positive difference in the world. When the 5-year-old is older, perhaps she will understand how many people she has helped (and inspired) through her efforts.

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h/t GoodNewsNetwork