Students at Hague Elementary School have raised over $4,500 for humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.
The funds were generated through pledges for a walkathon, held Tuesday, March 15 at the school in which all students participated.
The funds will be turned over to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and go directly to front-line refugee relief programs in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
Students in Heidi MacKay’s Grade 6 class at Hague Elementary School came up with the idea, and the rest of the school took up the cause.
“Part of our school curriculum for Grade 6 covers the topic of ‘peace and conflict’ in the world,” said MacKay. “The war in Ukraine is dominating the news right now, so it’s a big part of our class discussions on current events.
“We’re also reading a novel in our English language arts class about a refugee child in Afghanistan, and the reasons why wars force children and their families to flee their homes and become refugees.”
MacKay said the goal of the walkathon fundraiser is to help students understand that a small group can make a big difference.
“We are focusing on a message of peace and hope,” said MacKay. “We want the students to understand that when we see people in need, we should do what we can to help.”
MacKay said the funds will go to MCC efforts to provide trauma relief, emergency housing, medical supplies and food packages for refugees.
She said the school staff was amazed by the overwhelming response of the community for donations.
“We had set a goal of $1,000,” she said. “We were completely blown away by how much money came in.”
She said the children are also excited to see the results of their fundraising efforts.
“We have a big thermometer outside the school that marks off how much comes in,” said MacKay. “We’re keeping track every day.”