School mufti day benefits local elderly
The joy on the faces of pensioners was hard to miss.
Forty food parcels packed with fresh vegetables, soaps, canned food, bread, and homemade mini mince pies were delivered to local pensioners on Thursday.
The generosity was sparked by Forest View High School student Isobella Jackson,17, who funded it through a mufti day at the school.
‘‘I remembered in England, where I spent my childhood, we did this thing called Harvest where students brought in food which then got delivered to the elderly.
‘‘I was trying to think of something where we wouldn’t have to put too much money in but still make a big impact so I thought why not bring it to Tok’,’’ she said.
Instead of bringing in the usual gold coin donations on mufti day, students brought food and essential cleaning items to go into parcels for local pensioners.
‘‘We managed to get over 300 items and there was also the option of bringing in money which we used towards buying more food,’’ Isobella said.
She worked with Tokoroa City Lions to determine which pensioners would receive the parcels.
‘‘They have a pensioner list of who they give firewood to so we got that list,’’ she said.
New World also donated fruit and bread. Tokoroa Community Gardens provided ‘‘a whole heap of veggies’’, and Isobella’s step dad’s company Ecurb Electrical donated $350.
‘‘It is a big thing because it shows there is still compassion around.’’
‘‘It’s been a really big community project,’’ she said.
Isobella said it was important for young people to consider the elderly. ‘‘Usually the elderly are overlooked and we don’t see the trouble they have to go through,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m hoping it becomes a tradition and that other schools start doing the same, even if it’s once a term because you can do a lot with something as little as bringing in one can of baked beans.’’
Pensioner Opal Farquharson said it was moving seeing young people wanting to help.
‘‘To me it is a big thing because it shows there is still compassion around,’’ she said.
‘‘I believe at the end of the day when you pass over you will be judged. There are a lot of people who couldn’t care less if we were here or not so to see children doing it and to know there are still children that care is a big lift.’’