The Mehlville School District’s Alt Academy is reaching out to children 3,000 miles away with its “Crayons For Kids” campaign, which has the goal of filling a 55-gallon barrel full of crayons for school children in Nicaragua.

Alt Academy is coordinating crayon donations across the district by putting donation buckets in every school. The condition of the crayons is not a major factor, according to a news release.

John DeWalle, administrative intern for Alternative Programs, stated in the release, “We’re more than happy to take used and broken crayons. It’s part of the lesson we’re teaching our students. Things that American school children might throw away without a thought are treasured items in countries like Nicaragua. In a country that’s been ravaged by natural disasters and economic hardships, a simple thing like a crayon can bring smiles to young children.”

The public is invited to take part in the program by bringing crayons to any Mehlville school during regular hours. Free shipping already has been arranged so there are no expenses related to the “Crayons For Kids” drive.