Notre Dame High School (NDHS) students braved the cold and rain with smiles while fundraising for a local cause.
The Hungry for the Homeless campaign saw groups of Grade 9 to 12 students in three different locations around town asking for non-perishable food and monetary donations for the Bonnyville food bank.
Siobhan Penner, NDHS teacher, said during the event on Thursday, Sept. 26, that it has grown since its inception five years ago.
Groups of students were at three different locations around town asking for non-perishable food and monetary donations.
“We had more students than ever participating. We had every grade represented, and last year we ended up raising close to $1,500 as well as 32 boxes of non-perishable food items. This year, we were on track to meet, if not exceed it, which is perfect going into Thanksgiving,” exclaimed Penner.
Grade 12 student Sydney Martin has been involved with the campaign since she started high school. Over the years, she’s seen the number of classmates participating and donations skyrocket.
“I think that it’s important for us to do it because we have such a great need in our community, and we have so much kindness and potential, but we just don’t express it enough,” Martin said. “I think this is a great opportunity to help those less fortunate than us.”
Martin was grateful for the chance to give back, and bring awareness to the issue. For her, it was only a few short hours outside, while “for some people, this isn’t just an option, it’s their real life.”
Being able to give back was one of the reasons why Grade 11 student Dillan Zahar joined the dozens of others standing in the rain.
This was Zahar’s second year participating, and he was blown away by the positive responses.
“They want to help the community even in the hard times we’re facing right now, and it just strengthens the community as a whole,” he noted.
Hungry for the Homeless is a chance to remind students just how lucky they are.
Grade 12 NDHS student Erica Ostashek was stationed at the Bonnyville Sobeys during Hungry for the Homeless.
“We’re honestly so blessed in what we have, be it our food, our homes, our families, and we know that there’s need within our community,” Penner expressed. “It’s important to be selfless in what we do as well as be considerate for others. It’s part of our Christian teachings, it’s just part of a regular moral code, and we feel it’s important to show kids we always have something that we can give.”
Witnessing students step up each year is a highlight for Pauline Mawer, assistant executive director for the Bonnyville Friendship Centre.
Last year, the local food bank helped 2,552 households. In December alone, 279 clients were served, which was significant as the centre is closed for two weeks during the holidays.
It’s events like Hungry for the Homeless that allow the food bank to support those who need it.
“It amazing. It’s so humbling, and it just reminds us of why we do what we do. It’s for the community that we’re serving out there, and I think those kids know that they’re serving their community by going out there to get the food, and helping the less fortunate by going out to get the food. I think it just resonates from there… I personally can’t say enough about them, they’re amazing young people, and they’re going to be great leaders.”
Everything collected during the event was given to the friendship centre, and donations are being accepted at NDHS until Friday, Oct. 4. Penner said the hope is to give the food bank enough time to get the food out to those in need before Thanksgiving.
