Book donation project ends in a kiss for a pig

MOSES LAKE — Usually the monthly assembly at Midway Elementary School holds the children’s attention, what with awards being handed out and things. But the students were a little fidgety Friday, and no wonder. Something was going to happen that had never happened at a Midway assembly before.

The students had been given a challenge by librarian Nicole Wolfe. She asked for donations of books that could in turn be donated to other children. If the children donated enough books, principal Russel Kovalenko would have to - well, let Kovalenko explain it.

The children not only met but surpassed their goal. Wolfe said they collected more than 2,000 books.

“So I will be kissing a pig,” Kovalenko said.

There were two pigs in fact, since students in the class that collected the most books were allowed to select a teacher to also kiss a pig. They chose kindergarten teacher Keiley Warkentin. 

Wolfe said she got the idea for a book drive during the 2022 Christmas season, when she saw the bags of toys ready for delivery by Firefighters for Kids, founded by Moses Lake firefighter Mike Miner. The toys were great, but something was missing.

“There weren’t any books in those bags,” she said. 

She set out to remedy that in 2023. She organized the book donation drive, with the books collected donated to Firefighters for Kids. And in due course the children brought in a couple thousand books, and Moses Lake High School senior Samantha Underwood and her dad Joseph Underwood brought in two little pigs, Rebel and Hank. 

A breed called Kunekune, the two are very mellow little pigs and love to be cuddled, Samantha Underwood said. They napped in their cage, barely twitching an ear as the awards were handed out and the anticipation rose. The moment came, and Kovalenko pulled out his lip balm.

He said some of the children had asked him how this was going to play at home.

“They said, ‘Mr. Kovalenko, you’d better ask your wife.’” he said. 

His wife gave her approval. But he doesn’t kiss just any pig, he said. Rebel looked like the better little pig. 

“Kiss the pig. Kiss the pig,” the children chanted.

And Kovalenko leaned in and gave that pig a smooch. Warkentin petted Hank and then pecked the pig on the snout. 

Wolfe had a surprise for the children — other teachers had volunteered to kiss the pigs and the children could determine who that would be just by making noise. The teachers lined up, but there was so much noise there wasn’t a clear winner. So the volunteer teachers all kissed a pig.

Miner said he started Firefighters for Kids while living in Spokane, and it’s still based there, helping families in both Spokane and Moses Lake. Nominated families receive clothes and toys for the children, along with food. Donations can be made at the organization’s website, www.firefightersforkids.org.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com. 

Correction: Joseph Underwood's name has been corrected in the photo caption.

    Keiley Warkentin, kindergarten teacher at Midway Elementary School, kisses a cute little pig during Friday’s monthly school assembly. Joseph Underwood holds the pig.