Students in Nanaimo school district are determined to demonstrate the buying power of spare change.
Realizing that Nanaimo school district students were one of the most socio-economically disadvantaged in the province and that many students come to school hungry every day, student councils from Dover Bay, John Barsby and Cedar secondary schools put their heads together to find out how they could make a difference.
The councils came up with a way to make a positive impact with their school-based fundraising by collecting spare change as part of the Change for Change campaign in support of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation’s student support fund.
The campaign runs until Thursday (May 19) with the groups looking for donations from fellow students and members of the community. Each school will be doing its own promotions to raise money and organizers are encouraging everyone to pitch in their extra coins.
“I wanted to get involved in this project because it gives students the opportunity to show they care about the community they live in,” said Byron Miller, Dover Bay student council president. “At Dover we plan to have a buy-in Jello eating contest, sell Change for Change T-shirts, ask for spare change and sell votes for battle of the bands to raise money.”
The money will go toward the foundation’s student support fund which helps those most in need.
Funds go directly to school principals to assist many of the district’s vulnerable students who would otherwise be without the recourses to fully participate in school.
“Seeing students take the initiative to raise funds for our programs that support their own peers is amazing,” said Erin van Steen, foundation executive director. “The issue of child poverty is in our own backyards and many students need the support of our programs.”
The Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation works with the district to bring programs that better the lives of students through support and scholarship programs. Supplies and programs that are not covered by the school board budget can be supplemented through the foundation.
To make a donation to the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation, please contact www.nlsf.ca or 250-753-4074.
