Students at John Black Public School are collecting non-perishable food items instead of sweet treats when they go door to door on Halloween night.
The initiative is being organized by the school’s We Team, a new, student-run social activism club for senior students grades 6 to 8, under the guidance of teachers Kristyn DiGirolamo and Nia Pommier.
The group decided to support the Halloween for Hunger initiative proposed by Free the Children, an international organization that raises funds and awareness for issues surrounding poverty, hunger and education for underprivileged children and youths around the world.
“This is the first time our school has done this,” said Pommier.
“The club is running and organizing the event but they are encouraging all the students in the school to participate in collecting for the food bank.”
The goal is to have John Black students collect non-perishable food items instead of trick or treating this Halloween. All items collected will go directly to the Centre Wellington Food Bank to support local families.
“The younger children can trick or treat for food goods in addition to their Halloween candy, but the older students who would not normally trick or treat will do so for food bank items,” Pommier said.
“Students who don’t trick or treat or who don’t want to collect items door to door are welcome to bring in food items from home as well.”
To gain school support, the We Team organized a poster campaign, prepared morning announcements and created a school-wide spirit day where students worked in small groups with a multi-aged team to talk about the difference between wants and needs and how it relates to poverty and hunger.
Raising awareness and action has inspired the student body of John Black School to get involved.
Pommier hopes the Fergus community will support the students too.
While the students are not asking for specific food items, the Food Bank is in need of basic food supplies including soups, condiments and side-dish ingredients for meals.
“If people in the community are stocking up on items to have on hand for our students to collect, these would be good items to get,” said Pommier.
She added, “Although we will be very grateful for any donations.”
