St. Mary’s scaring you for charity once again
Students at St. Mary’s School will be scaring up donations Friday for mental health initiatives and hungry families.
The school’s Healthy Initiative Team is hosting its fourth annual haunted house rom 4-6 p.m. to raises funds for both mental health support and to collect food donations for the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank.
“This a student-led group that decides what activities they would like to do throughout the year to promote positive health,” said teacher Rocheal Howes. “This year, we’re focusing on positive mental health, as we did last year.
“In order to do some of the things we want to do, we have to figure out a way to make money, because some of the things we want to do (cost money). It started as a fundraiser for that, and then it expanded into wanting to support families in our community and families at our school that are struggling.”
The house will be located in the school’s dance studio and student volunteers will be providing two versions of the house during the event. One is aimed toward younger children, while the other is for older kids.
Members of the team have been working hard to ensure the house is ready.
“I’m very excited,” said Grade 8 student Claire Holt. “I think it’s a good idea to help raise money for the school and the food bank.”
“I love helping and I love planning stuff, and it’s fun,” said Grade 9 student Levi Littlewood. “I’m really excited to help.”
Howes said mental health has become an all-encompassing focus for the school.
“We’re finding that kids at St. Mary’s are experiencing more anxiety, and we anticipated them to be,” she said. “This is something we want to figure out and be able to help them deal with the anxiety and stresses of junior high.”
Admission is $2 or an item for the food bank. The school is located at 155 11 St. SW.