Grade Four Students Moved by Stories of Homelessness Present Cheque to CHF
Dave Quon – Principal, Olympic Heights School, student and fellow teacher with Shane Rempel – System Planner, Calgary Homeless Foundation
Last June, before a packed gymnasium at Olympic Heights School, some very special grade 4 students presented Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) with a cheque for $1,738.67.
The donation represents the culmination of months of hard work by these inspiring young people. The students worked on a collective social entrepreneurial adventure program which began by researching charities across Canada. After extensive vetting, they chose to fundraise for CHF. The classes also met with two members from CHF’s Youth Advisory Table (YAT)—a committee of youth who have experienced homelessness. The students were moved by the YAT’s stories and felt compelled to be a part of the solution to alleviate homelessness in our city.
The students raised funds by selling “Summer Fun Kits.” These kits sold for $10 each and contained a kite, sidewalk chalk, bee-friendly seeds, origami paper, freezies and lemonade. Additional funds were raised through the sales from a student-led lemonade stand.
We are so grateful to the students of Olympic Heights School for their generosity, the deep empathy they possess, and the inspiration they instill in us as our future generation. It was heartwarming to see the compassion in these young folks when the YAT members presented their stories. They give us hope that eventually the stigma attached to those experiencing homelessness will not exist for future generations.
The students’ donation will help CHF in its work to support the needs of Calgarians experiencing homelessness. The students also donated 8 backpacks which were given to grade 4 students in CHF-funded family programs.
