Elementary student motivates others to give to the needy

Friday, Aug. 01, 2014

OGDEN — Armani McFarland’s goal this year is to collect 650 backpacks for Catholic Community Services’ Backpack Bonanza in northern Utah.

This will be McFarland’s third year collecting backpacks; she was 9 and in the third grade when she started. The first year she collected 190 backpacks filled with school supplies; last year she collected 612.  

“We really depend on the backpacks Armani collects,” said Marci Valdez, director of CCS Northern Utah. “Her goal is 650 and our goal is 2,500, so she collects one fourth of what we give away. She is so motivational for others; they see the efforts she is making and get inspired to help out. The work that she does personally and the inspiration that she gives to others goes a long way in helping us to meet our goals and get the community involved in what we are doing. She is a great advocate for us and a great example to other people in the community.” 

McFarland is now 11 and will enter the sixth grade when school begins. She has a Facebook page and a blog so people can keep up with her work as a community advocate, said her mother, Cassidy McFarland. 

“She has more great email contacts than many,” said her mother.

Armani McFarland was honored with the 2013 CCS Unsung Hero award, has been featured more than once in the local newspapers and television, and received $500 from KUTV’s “Pay it Forward” program for her fundraising efforts. 

“United Stations out of Salt Lake heard about Armani through Pay it Forward, and they now donate 100 backpacks filled with supplies,” said Cassidy McFarland.

McFarland’s philanthropic work began when she was in the third grade. Her teacher Cammie Burlison, who is also her aunt, talked to the class about “how some kids have to go to bed hungry, and that thought made me really sad,” said McFarland, who was inspired to help and asked her mother if she could do a food drive.

Cassidy McFarland told her daughter to start with something small. “Take your money and buy some food items and take them to the food pantry,” she said. 

Armani McFarland said, “No, I want to do something bigger.” 

By sending out flyers, McFarland collected more than 1,000 pounds of food, which she took to the CCS Northern Utah food pantry. 

“When we delivered the food, I saw they were having a backpack drive and I started to help,” said McFarland.

McFarland also has increased her efforts by sending handwritten letters; in addition, she has collected stuffed animals, toothbrushes and toothpaste for firefighters and police officers for kids who are scared, coats and toys for Christmas for the Christmas Box House, Saint Ann’s Shelter, CCS and Ogden Rescue Mission during the past two years.

“We collected 460 coats the first year,” said McFarland, who gives credit to Sterling Nielsen, president and CEO of Mountain America Credit Union, for letting her put flyers and bins in the credit unions in the Ogden area.

McFarland doesn’t stop there, she also volunteers once a week at Alpine Outreach Center and serves food at Saint Ann’s Shelter. 

McFarland hasn’t decided what she wants to be when she grows up but has considered becoming a teacher or a nurse.

“I love helping people and seeing the smiles on their faces,” said McFarland. “During the backpack distribution, I handed out a backpack to one little girl who had a big smile on her face; she put it on and danced around like it was Christmas morning.” 

Armani has always had a big heart, said Cassidy McFarland.

“Through the years I’ve watched her; she sees the big picture,” she said. “She sees the needs and is always saying ‘God wants us to help, Mom.’”

McFarland’s role model is Mother Teresa of Kolkata, who called herself ‘a little pencil in the hands of God.’ 

“The pencil has nothing to do with it – the pencil has only to be allowed to be used,” Blessed Mother Teresa said.

“I love that quote and I want to be a pencil, too,” said McFarland.