Readers Earn Water Buffalo [VIDEO]

As Grafton’s enthusiastic readers turned their pages this summer, they helped create a new chapter in the lives of families in need throughout the world.

Hour by hour, the readers earned farm animals, from bees to water buffalo, through Heifer International.

The organization, which has a farm in Rutland among its many international locations, provides gifts of livestock to struggling families.

The recipients agree to share the offspring of gift animals with others in need, making them equal partners with Heifer in the fight to end world hunger.

Last summer, staff members at the decided to donate to Heifer Project based on their own reading amounts. The idea was developed by staff member Suzanne Witham.

This year, the program was opened to the community.

At various levels, the readers “earned’’ specific gift donations, including a flock of chicks, a flock of ducks, a hive of bees, two goats, two sheep, two llamas and the final level, a water buffalo.

These animals will now be sent by Heifer International to families who will now be able to feed their families and educate their neighbors.

“This has been wonderful,’’ said children’s librarian Amanda Diurba.

The program blended nicely with the summer reading theme: One World, Many Stories, which aimed to connect youngsters with many various cultures.

“We’re all here, we’re all one, we all have something to offer,’’ she said. “The creativity of the theme let the kids explore other areas of knowledge that they probably wouldn’t have otherwise thought of.’’

Financial support was provided by , Friends of the Grafton Public Library, library staff members and Martha Tidman.