Liahona students raise money for Mexico orphans

PLEASANT GROVE — Christmas is coming to an orphanage in Mexico, thanks to the fund-raising efforts of Liahona Academy and its 140 students.

The students in the private school based on the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints raised nearly $9,000 for orphans in Puebla, Mexico, executive assistant Melody Rush said. Two Franciscan fathers operate the Casa Hogar Francisco orphanage.

In addition to Christmas the money will help pay bills and buy food for a few months, she said.

The funds are expected to be delivered to Casa Hogar by a representative of Liahona Academy, she said.

For several years Liahona Academy and Distance Education students have gathered clothing, toys and school supplies for the 66 orphans at the orphanage and 150 orphans at Saint Martin's Orphanage in Texcoco, Mexico.

"Brent and Kolleen DeGraff, founders and administrators of Liahona Academy and the Liahona Distance Education Program have led several trips to Mexico where students and families have distributed clothing, toys and school supplies, cleaned and painted orphanages and prepared play yards and vegetable gardens for these children in need," she said.

Dentists and doctors often travel with the group to provide dental and medical services.

The money raised this year is a combination of cash donations and the efforts of students who sold Cravers Cookie Dough door to door in their neighborhoods, she said.