LAC LA BICHE - The second annual Fill the Pack Challenge that provides students in the area with school supplies will be helping hundreds more this year. The fundraiser, led by the Lac La Biche RCMP detachment, County peace officers and fire services, filled over 330 backpacks with supplies such as pencils, pencil cases, notebooks and rulers for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students.
The challenge wrapped up on Aug. 28 and exceeded all expectations this year, said John Kokotilo, Lac La Biche County’s manager of protective services and regional Fire Chief. The iniative was made possible thanks to the support of a new partner in the challenge — the Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre. This year, the organization contributed supplies and connected with community members in need. In turn, it helped the fire department come in first place.
“This year—I hate to say it—but Fire hates to lose, so we reached out to the Native Friendship Centre and they had the same idea in mind in putting together these packs to help students. Ultimately, they’ve exceeded beyond our expectations,” Kokotilo said
Last-minute community donations and dollars donated to all departments will continue to support more students this year.
After the backpack and supplies were tallied, the County peace officers came in second and the RCMP detachment finished in last place. The RCMP officers will be soaked at the Bold Center Sports Field on Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Community partnerships
Unaware of the challenge's ramifications but ready to lend a helping hand, the Friendships Centre’s student support worker, Tashina Paul says it's a great cause that builds community connections.
“It’s very nice that we collaborated with the fire department and I’m happy that we’re doing this work. The list that we had, had over 300 students, so we shopped for over 300 students and the fire station helped us with that as well.”
The Friendship Centre distributed flyers for parents and caregivers to sign up for the pilot program. With over 300 parents applying, the need was significant.
“We had people call in and register with us. We took what information we needed [including] how many kids, and what grades they were going in, and worked from there. It was a very busy day when we had parents register, the phones were [ringing] off the hook,” she said.
This year, the backpacks filled with supplies will be available for students in and around the County, she said
“We had people calling from Kikino, Buffalo Lake, Plamondon and the Lac La Biche area… we wanted to help everyone as much as we can,” said Paul.
Over 330 backpacks filled with supplies were available to be picked up by the families and guardians of the students, said Kokotilo. While last year’s winners delivered the 80 backpack quota, this year's reach is far and wide.
“They can pick them up from the protective services building on the fire side,” located on Beaverhill Road in the hamlet of Lac La Biche from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or call to make an arrangement for pickup.
Everyone's a winner
While the local RCMP detachment and the County peace officers didn't win the friendly competition, the hard work and donations all the departments collected in recent weeks is a win, said Kokotilo.
“It's all about giving back to the community and at the end of the day we all won,” said Kokotilo, congratulating and thanking all the departments, volunteers and Portage College’s soccer teams for helping fill the backpacks.
“I think next year we will collaborate again and make a bigger and better event. We only just started this and we’ll have more ideas and plans to help the kids next year who are going back to school,” said Paul.
