If there's one thing you can say about the students at Byrne Creek Secondary, it's that they take care of each other. Student council members at the Burnaby high school spent this holiday season fundraising thousands of dollars to buy hampers for families in need, many of which have teenage children attending Byrne Creek.
"Our school runs this annual hamper drive because for some, the holiday season can be a joyful, wonderful and a rejoicing time. But for others, it can be a very stressful, challenging and even an unhappy time," said Nhi Nguyen, Byrne Creek's student council vice-president. "Holiday dinners are expensive to prepare, and gifts are difficult to buy. Many of our families at Byrne Creek are new to Canada, have fled their home country due to war and extreme poverty and leave their home with the dream of a better life."
Byrne Creek is known for its high numbers of refugee and immigrants, many who arrive impoverished, with limited job skills and little English.
"Some students come from single-parent households that require them to work to help ensure there is enough food for their brothers and sisters," Nguyen said.
Byrne Creek has breakfast and lunch programs to help feed students who come to class hungry, but when school's out for the holidays, there's extra pressure on families to feed their kids for two weeks. That's partly why the students fundraise to help their fellow classmates.
For two weeks in early December, the student council collected money from other students.
"We always say it could always be someone you're sitting next to," Nguyen said. "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world."
The students also wrote a fundraising letter for businesses, then delivered the letter in person, asking to speak with the manager, and explained what they were doing and why.
They followed up with a phone call, and most businesses said yes, Nguyen explained.
Vancity donated $500, Winners donated $150, Save-on-Foods gave $220 in gift cards, and Safeway donated $20. Teachers also pitched in with donations, and students brought items for the hampers.
The South Burnaby Neighbourhood House, a non-profit community group, donated $500.
The students raised approximately $3,800, and the lion's share ($2,032) was from the students to help their fellow classmates.
Four families have been singled out for extra holiday pampering, thanks to the students' community partners: the RCMP, the Metrotown Gap, the South Burnaby Neighbourhood House and the Tzu Chi Foundation. The four families were chosen because they are quite large and just arrived in Canada, Nguyen explained.
In all, 60 hampers were created.
"All day we were making the hampers, and it was such a warm feeling," Nguyen said.
Teachers identified which students' families needed help and the hamper items were selected based on the families' particular needs.
The student council packed the hampers, and deliveries went out before Christmas.
Thanks to the student leaders at Byrne Creek, their teachers and the surrounding community, 60 families will find the holidays a little warmer and more welcoming in spite of their hardships.
As Nguyen put it, the "hamper drive aims to support or families during this time so that they can also have a joyous holiday season the way it is meant to be." [email protected]
