Keep all kids fed!
Students at St. Michael’s School are busy collecting donations for Mary’s Meals, an international non-denominational organization providing meals to school children in developing nations. This year’s donations will go to children in Malawi. Students Chase Gauthier, Justice Johnstone, Colby Sherwick, Lyndon Sherwick, Simon Tieman, Lauryn Johnson, Sydney Devore, Faith Batten, Spencer Ford and Trey Watson represented their classes for the photograph.
St. Michael’s school students are putting a little extra thought and time into their annual Lenten giving project this year, says principal Ron Blackmer, as the entire student body comes together to support Mary’s Meals.
“We thought this would be a great thing for our students to do,” says Blackmer. “A lot of the Catholic schools during Lent will pick a mission project ... We are doing a number of activities throughout the school and the money raised will go towards that project.”
Mary’s Meals provides a free daily meal to hungry children throughout the world in their schools. Mary’s Meals Canada focuses its giving on the county of Malawi, which, like many countries in Africa right now, is suffering a critical food shortage.
St. Mike’s will be raising money for Mary’s Meals by accepting donations from students and parents, raffling off Easter baskets, and by taking a silver collection at their annual Holy Thursday Passion Play coming up on April 13.
Mary Meals Canada fundraising co-ordinator Jill Mowser says her organization is extremely grateful for the support of St. Michael’s.
“It’s been a struggle to get media attention to the situation that is happening in Africa,” confirms Mowser, “so it’s actually really wonderful what they are doing ... I think a lot of people in Canada want to be able to help others but they are not really sure how. They might feel really overwhelmed by the scale of the problems the world is facing. I think it is nice to know there is an organization out there like Mary’s Meals, where we can provide a daily meal for one year for a child living in poverty for $16.”
Mowser says school kids usually get what Mary’s Meals is trying to do at an instinctive level.
“Mary’s Meals does really resonate with school children here in Canada, because they learn about children just like them who don’t have a daily meal. It makes them feel good they can help kids just like them.”
Mr. Blackmer hopes this inaugural drive for Mary’s Meals will turn into an annual mission for his school community.
“I am hoping this is something we will continue to do, not just a one-shot thing. I am hoping it will be something St. Michael’s will maybe be known for in the future,” he says.