What a great saying! Map out your future – but do with pencils! This is because your future can change with just one decision. Just like how the future of students in Jamaica is about to change with just one donation.
This month, as part of a larger shipment, Food For the Poor Canada will be sending over 200,000 pencils to Jamaica! This is all thanks to the generosity of one of our donors.
These pencils will benefit children who can’t afford school supplies. The ability to write is critical to learning. Having this tool will allow students to take part in writing activities. This provides a more meaningful educational experience.
We thought it would be interesting to share some fun facts about the pencil with you. For such a humble tool, it truly is remarkable
- An average size tree will make approximately 300,000 pencils.
- The invention of the pencil was in 1795 by Nicholas-Jacques Conte. And the pencil sharpener? That wasn't invented until 1828 by Bernard Lassimone! Before this, people would sharpen their pencils with knives or sandpaper.
- Pencils have their own day. March 30th, considered World Pencil Day.
- The contents of a pencil are often referred to as ‘lead’, pencils do not actually contain any. Most pencils contain a mixture of graphite and clay.
- Before the invention of erasers people would use breadcrumbs to erase their mistakes.
- It is thought the word “pencil” comes from the Old French word “pincel” which means “a small paintbrush”.
- A pencil can write underwater and in space!
- An average pencil can be sharpened 17 times, draw a line 35 miles long and can write approximately 45,000 words.
The most important fact of all is that these pencils will provide students in Jamaica with a brighter future by having the necessary tools to learn to write.
Learn more about FFPC's commitment to education here
Map out your future – but do it with pencils!
Since the beginning of 2022 you shipped three containers of food to Jamaica, Honduras and Haiti. Over 2,379,950 meals!