BY PATRICIA KELLER
WEST MILFORD — Macopin Middle School’s “Make A Change Club” is hosting their ninth annual “Give a Goat Night” event tonight from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Macopin Middle School Gym.
The event is a family-friendly evening full of fun entertainment, all for a good cause: to effect positive change in the lives of others in need.
How it began...
Nine years ago, MACC Advisors Krista Provost, Joseph Andriulli, and their MACC students sought out a new way to “make a change” in the world.
Through research, writing, and thoughtful discussion, they came up with “Give a Goat Night” as a fun and entertaining event for the community, and a way to raise money to purchase goats for impoverished families and villages in South America.
Dairy goats are a tremendous gift for a poor family- they can produce several quarts of milk each day, which can also be used to make cheese, yogurt and butter to feed a family. Goat manure is used to fertilize gardens. These resources can also provide a source of much needed income for a family.
In 2016, a single goat cost $75.
Each year since the inception of Give a Goat Night, the club has raised enough money to donate 20 or more goats to the villagers in South America; and has donated more than 200 goats over the past eight years.
Students in the MACC learn “...how to properly use voice and action to make powerful and necessary changes at local, state, national, and international levels.”
The club has since expanded its endeavors to include support for other charitable organizations on national, state, and local levels; with the goal each year to select meaningful causes for which they can make a positive change, and to increase the amount of support they can provide to exceed that of previous years.
Through the Give a Goat Night event, the MACC students raise funds to help make changes by providing assistance to those in need through various charitable organizations and causes, which they research and choose for each year.
The $10 entrance fee for Give a Goat Night includes pizza, a drink, a dessert, and an evening of amusing antics.
Macopin Teachers, Staff, and Administrators come together donned in the themed costumes of their “Superteams” for the year, and compete against each other in wacky games and contests for points, for the amusement of the crowd, and above all - for charity.
Some new events this year that are sure to provide the crowd with a lot of laughs, include: Teachers competing in “Bubble Soccer” suits, “Angry Teachers” and “Hungry Hungry Teachers” games, and an “Uber Course” relay race.
Support the 2019 Superteams
Macopin students can support the Superteam and/or charity of their choice by making a donation in a bucket designated for that team/charity during their lunch periods. The money collected in each donation bucket will be added to the portion of Give a Goat Night profits that will be donated to that charitable cause.
The Superteams will be given points based on the money raised for their team/cause. The Superteam with the most money raised by 1/25 will earn bonus points for the Give A Goat Night competition.
Bonus points can be crucial in determining finishing placement for teams… event attendees will have the opportunity to PIE the losing Superteam at the end of the night for only a $1.00 donation!
Meet this year's Superteams
The 2019 Superteams and their charities/causes are:
MacSquad Team members:
Mr. Zackaroff, Mrs. Fear, Mr. Shelby, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Sondermeyer, Mrs. Infante, Mr. Paccione, Mrs. Tripodi
Donations for: A Local Family
Isabella Bolton’s mother passed away this fall from colon cancer when Isabella was just 8 months old. The money raised will be donated to Isabella’s college fund to help assist her and her family at this difficult time, while providing assistance for her future.
Fortnite: Macopin Royale
Team members:
Mr. Pruksarnukul, Ms. Boze, Mr. Dygos, Mrs. Rzonca, Mr. Smolinski, Ms. Oltmanns, Mrs. Grimshaw, Ms. Segal
Donations for: Habitat for Humanity
Donations will be given to Habitat for Humanity. This organization helps people around the community improve their living conditions and builds houses for less fortunate families.
Baby Shark Family
Team members:
Mr. Strianse, Mrs. Lyons, Mr. Conway, Mrs. Orlando, Mr. Mathews, Mrs. Finke, Mrs. Paluzzi, Mrs. Czulada
Donations for: WM Animal Shelter
Donations will be given to the West Milford Animal Shelter to support medical care, boarding, feeding, and finding forever homes for homeless animals. The money will be used to help animals in need.
Macomania
Team members:
Mr. Andriulli, Mrs. Dickerson, Mr. Citro, Mrs. Accavallo, Mr. Joecks, Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Provost, Mrs. Begley, Mrs. Kulak
Donations for: Student Assistance Fund-Washington Trip
Donations will be given to the Student Assistance Fund for the Washington DC Trip. Money will be divided and distributed through the fund to assist 8th grade students by helping to cover the cost of the trip.
Help MACC continue to make a difference
In addition to the entertaining events of the evening, the MACC will also have refreshments, food, snacks, and baked goods available for purchase. Concessions proceeds will help support the club in their continuing efforts to “make a change”- in their world, nation, state, and hometown community; in this year and for years and future projects to come.
For more information or to make a donation, e-mail MACC Advisor Krista Provost at krista.provost@wmtps.org.