Students at Innisfail High School and others around the region are stepping up to help families in need after they were displaced by the recent wildfire in Fort McMurray.
“Support The Fort” was a weeklong campaign held May 9 to 13 and coordinated by student leadership at Innisfail High School.
Grade 12 students Shanice Ross and Sera Grover were two members from student leadership that helped with the weeklong fundraiser.
“We were wanting to do something to help the community,” said student leadership president Sera Grover. “The student leadership team came up with the idea to raise money through classes and through the school and donate it to the Red Cross.”
Student leadership team members took time each morning to collect donations from students during the 20-minute reading period.
“We have raised approximately $450 so far this week,” said Grover, noting all proceeds raised will go towards the Canadian Red Cross.
Student leadership member Shanice Ross noted how students have rallied together and helped others in their time of need.
“I think it's really amazing to see how much Canada has come together as a country,” said Ross. “It's also good to see how Innisfail (high) school has come together to try to help out. Even a few dollars makes a huge difference in the lives of someone else,” she added. “I think it's really good.”
Grover was pleased with the feedback she's heard from students about fundraising efforts.
“I've found that students are really supportive of what we're doing,” said Grover, noting the student leadership is planning another possible fundraiser later this spring.
“The student leadership wants to put on a pancake breakfast for the community, potentially,” she said, adding dates and times are to be confirmed. “We would have the entire community involved.”
Other schools in both Innisfail and Penhold are stepping up to help raise funds for students and families from Fort McMurray.
Penhold Crossing Secondary School held a loonie drive every day between May 9 and 13 to raise funds for the Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees. In addition, students with The Ripple Initiative raised $1,703.30 during a recent fundraiser (April 29) for a Me To We youth trip. They have since instead decided to put that money towards helping families from Fort McMurray.
Penhold Elementary School held several fundraising activities last week (May 9 to 13) including a bottle drive, lemonade sale, a movie and snacks event, and a spend the night at the school event (until 8 p.m.) on May 12 that included pizza and games.
Bowden's Grandview School is holding a bottle drive May 16 to 20 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Alberta SPCA to help the animals of the Fort McMurray wildfires.
In Innisfail, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School is taking donations for relief efforts in Fort McMurray during Privilege Week from May 16 to 20.
École John Wilson Elementary School raised $1,239.50 with the “Wear a Hat for Fort Mac” day on May 11. Students were encouraged to wear a hat for the day when they donated to relief efforts.
Innisfail Middle School held a loonie and toonie fundraiser from May 9 to 11.
Both Grover and Ross, like many Albertans, have been touched by the Fort McMurray wildfires and inspired by the efforts of so many from across Alberta and Canada. They want evacuees to know there are many people doing what they can to help them and support them during this difficult time.
“If I wasn't in school I'd probably be doing a lot more than just helping with this fundraiser, but I think that what we are doing as a school is a big step in helping others,” said Grover. “It is really hard to leave your home on such short notice. With the country's and province's help they will eventually be able to go back home and have a life again.”
Ross said students from Fort McMurray need that support and time with their families.
“It's really hard right now, but eventually they're going to come out of this stronger.”
Shanice Ross
"I think it's really amazing to see how much Canada has come together as a country. It's also good to see how Innisfail (high) school has come together to try to help out."
