While this holiday season will be different for everyone, students, staff, and school communities are working collectively with partners to bring joy and necessities to the community.
The District received more than $40,000 in gift cards for groceries to distribute to those in need within school communities, including students who are learning remotely during the pandemic. Principals, teachers, and staff have been working together to identify students and families who could most benefit from support.
Food hampers are being assembled with donations from the community at several Burnaby schools, including Edmonds Community School.
Principal Sean Gaster:
It has been amazing to see the generosity of the entire Edmonds community and all of the partnerships this season. We estimate over $50,000 of benevolent giving that has gone directly to families. This has not only helped families at our school directly but also many families across the district who have been identified by our District’s settlement workers and community school coordinators.”
Byrne Creek Community School exceeded its goal of $5,000 for the 90 hampers created by students. Their Hamper Drive raised more than $6,700 in cash and $4,000 in food donations.
Additionally, many schools are taking part in annual donation drives, including one by Confederation Park Elementary students for Burnaby’s Food Hubs. Other examples include Kitchener Elementary, Gilmore Community School and Inman Elementary, where students and their families have been donating and collecting toys for the Burnaby Christmas Bureau and the Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society for distribution to local families. Inman has also been busy sorting hundreds of scarves and gloves that they’ve collected for the Burnaby Homeless Taskforce.
A Burnaby teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, has worked with her family and friends to collect almost $30,000 of support for those who need it. The teacher and team created 95 beautifully packaged hampers and 69 gift bags. Most were donated to Burnaby schools, including students and their families at Clinton, Cameron, and Glenwood elementary schools, as well as Second Street and Edmonds community schools.
The District is also grateful to community partners: the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, United Way of the Lower Mainland, Burnaby Neighbourhood House, Burnaby Firefighters Local 323, Supporting Burnaby Youth Society, Burnaby Children’s Fund, Re-food, Superstore, Walmart, Save-On-Foods, Safeway and other local groups, businesses and individuals who donated food, gift cards and/or funds to our schools for distribution to families.
Posted December 2020