When 5-year-old Sunshine Oelfk decided to empty her piggy bank recently, her grandmother, Jackie Oelfke, was shocked. Little Sunshine had been saving for months. What could be the sudden big-ticket item on Sunshine’s wishlist? But when she asked Sunshine what she wanted to buy the child replied with a cause so pure it brought Jackie to tears.
Now, several months after Sunshine’s initial mission, people all over the country are chipping in for her cause. Jackie couldn’t be more proud of her thoughtful granddaughter…
When Sunshine revealed what the money was for, Jackie had to do her best to conceal the tears rolling down her face. In an emotional interview with TODAY Parenting, Jacie shared what her grandbaby wanted to spend her hard-earned money on.
“She said she was taking it to school for milk. I explained that I had already paid for her milk for the month, then she looked at me and said, ‘My friend’s mom doesn’t have milk money, and I do.’”
It was at that moment Jackie realized how special her grandchild was – after months of saving, Sunshine didn’t want a new toy, she just wanted to feed her classmates.
Jackie agreed to help Sunshine take the money to her classroom and hand it to her teacher. She even took to Facebook to gush about her granddaughter’s sweet milk mission. Within hours, Jackie’s teary-eyed post had gone viral. Viewers from all corners of the globe were blown away by the 5-year-old’s selfless nature.
Soon offers of donations began to pour in…
Sunshine’s kindergarten teacher, Rita Hausher, told TODAY Parents turning children away when they ask for milk was one of the most heart-wrenching aspects of her job. But now with the attention surrounding Sunshine’s sweet actions, the discomfort is a thing of the past.
“I have always felt sad when I have had to tell a student, ‘no,’ when they ask if they can have milk. Thanks to Sunshine’s act of kindness for one student, it has grown so much that it now includes everyone, which makes my heart happy.”
To date, Sunshine’s GoFundMe page raised nearly $19,000 from strangers who were inspired by her mission. This means her classmates will have all the milk their hearts desire – and Sunshine can rest easy knowing they’re taken care of at school.
No child should ever have to face hunger due to a lack of money! Sunshine’s mission is certainly a noble one.
Learn more about Sunshine’s heartwarming mission below. She’s a selfless little girl who’s truly making a difference!