Helping neighbours close to home

IROQUOIS – “What we wanted to do was to give to other people. We have so much and it’s hard to think that others in our community don’t have much. It was a chance to help out people locally,” said Seaway District High School student Breanna Blacquiere. “We do have a global program, but this was helping close to home.”

Students from the high school and the intermediate school have been working together over the last three weeks, as part of the Meet or Beat Challenge held at Seaway. This fourth annual Challenge asked students to use their MSIP periods to collect food, small gifts and hygiene products for donation to two local organizations.

The goods donated by students and staff are going to the South Dundas Christmas Exchange and Naomi Family Resource Centre.

“The intermediate students were especially wonderful,” Blackquiere said, “working with our global outreach program for the first time. Our high school students also came through for us.”

The Challenge raised over 700 food items, and many hygiene and small gift items, “more than we actually expected,” Blackquiere said.

Students from both Seaway schools worked together promoting the drive and bringing gifts to collection areas in the building. Teachers Mary Lewis, and Brenda Como from the high school, and Connie Shearer from the intermediate school with E.A. Nicole Hummel, helped the teens make this one of the most successful drives yet.

“I like to see our kids getting involved in the community and giving back to it,” teacher Brenda Como said. “It was a great opportunity for the grades 7-8s to work with our high school students in a major project.”

The boxes of goods will be taken to their local destinations this week, in time for organizers to ready them for Christmas delivery.