Local students are helping young mothers across the Lakeland, one box at a time.
After sorting through and collecting bottles from their school recycling, the Grade 8 students of Dr. Bernard Brosseau School pooled their money together for a worthy cause.
According to Grade 8 teacher Krista Bernard, bottle collection is a task her students take on every year; however, this group of students had a whole new level of responsibility.
“I decided to have the Grade 8 students participate in a service project. Every year, we ask they get volunteer hours, but this year I thought in addition to that we would do a project where they got the chance to propose where they thought the money should go in the community,” Bernard explained.
Each group gathered information about a service within the community they thought was worthy of the $1,000 or so they had raised.
While some proposed organizations like the Bonnyville SPCA, Bonnyville Native Friendship Centre, Red Cross, and the Interval Home in Lloydminster, one group drifted outside of the box with their suggestion of the Healthy Babies Program.
Once all of the proposals were in, students and administration staff at the school put their heads together to select a winner.
This year, the Healthy Babies Program based out of Bonnyville was the chosen benefactor.
Karen Severn, outreach worker for the local organization, explained how the Healthy Babies works with young mothers to provide the items necessary for a happy and healthy little one.
The association has been around since 1996, and was started based on a need.
“There was a study done by dieticians in that era, and it was discovered there was quite a high percentage of low-weight babies in our area. There was a federal program at that time, so they applied to become a part of the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program,” explained Severn. “It's known that if you can increase the nutrition intake of the mother, you will get a healthier baby.”
This, Severn stressed, is why they also provide for the young mothers.
Rather than hand over the cash, the students wanted to add a personal touch to their donation.
They decorated boxes, which were filled with gift cards, bibs, toys, student-made blankets, and other items a young mother may not have enough of.
For the students who proposed the project, it was a chance to help others in a unique way.
Trinity Wentz, Lauren Bremer, Donovan Morgan, and Jonny Dallaire had pitched the idea after researching the program and its cause.
“It's a valuable organization because there are lots of mothers who don't have the right supplies to keep their babies healthy and happy,” Morgan expressed.
For Wentz, creating the boxes was a good opportunity to work together in order to provide local newborns with items they need.
“They're our next generation, so we need to make sure they have all of the opportunities they can so they can have a great life,” said Bramer.
Severn believes the donation means that more local moms are getting the help that they need.
“I think this is just wonderful,” she emphasized. “It's wonderful that our name is becoming known a bit in-town and groups are considering us for charitable donations.”
What Bernard is hoping the students ultimately take away from the experience is the importance of helping others in the community.
“I wanted to get students to engage with their school and community in a more meaningful way. By giving them choice and the opportunity to work together, I hoped they would be inspired to volunteer for others more willingly and openly.”
