PORTAGE | Sixth-graders at Willowcreek Middle School have spent the end of the year learning about Latin American countries, including Guatemala. They've learned about a charity named Mayan Families and are bringing in used clothing and shoes to send to kids their same age in Guatemala, where more than 6 million people living in poverty and live on less than $2 per day.

The students and teachers have already shipped off one box and there are many more to go.

Sixth grade social studies teacher Richard Lynch is in charge of the project and his wife, Marissela Lynch, a fellow teacher, is packing the donations and working with the Mayan Families.

For more information about the group people can visit www.mayanfamilies.org. Mayan Families is a small non-profit group operating in the Highlands of Guatemala. They operate a variety of programs as a comprehensive approach to give a hand up to needy Maya people and the communities in which they live. The work is supported completely through donations.

The Lynches have traveled to Guatemala and have seen the conditions first hand. These items are going directly to the families that live in the highlands of Guatemala.

All the donations the children brought in were used items, many let over from garage sales and a lot of the clothing items were outdated so most of the items are things that local charities don't want or cannot use.

People can call Willowcreek Middle School if interested in making a donation or helping with the cost of postage to send the packages.