THUNDER BAY – Students at St. Martin Elementary School erupted in cheers on Monday morning, upon learning their Blessings Cupboard project was one of six chosen for funding by the Tbaytel for Good campaign.
Proposed by a Grade 6 class at the south-side school, the cupboard will be stocked with necessities, including winter wear, undergarments and hygiene products, that students who otherwise might not have the means can access free of charge.
The school received $1,500 through the program.
Eleven-year-old Kayleigh Randle said it was thrilling to learn her school had been selected as one of the winners by Tbaytel for Good.
“I’m very excited because I want to help people in our school community to have necessities they need to live,” she said, adding it’s sad to know people come to school without.
Teacher Lisa Auger helped spearhead the project, which was inspired by other schools that had instituted similar projects for their students.
The Tbaytel for Good campaign was the perfect opportunity, Auger said.
“I said to my students, ‘This is something that could help us ... do it,’” she said.
“We took a look at how a family can work full time and still not have enough for the necessities and did a whole math lesson on how much it’s going to cost. They just embraced it and became really passionate about it.”
A pair of regional programs were selected at the $5,000 level, including the Equawuk Women’s Group and the Municipality of Sioux Lookout Police Services Board and the MAKWA CLAN, which will patrol the Northern Ontario community to assist people in need to ensure they can access they care they require.
The Borrowing Cupboard, proposed by Kick Start in Kenora, also got $5,000. It’s a non-profit organization supporting the needs of disabled people in the Lake of the Woods area.
Joining St. Martin at the $1,500 level is Christ Novasat’s Grub Tub Snack Program, which provides non-perishable, nut-free snacks to students, handed out at the teachers’ discretion, to children who either don’t have or have forgotten their snacks.
It benefits students at both the public and Catholic school boards.
At the $500 level is Girls Night Out for the Girls, an event that raises money for chemotherapy care bags to ease the financial and emotional burden of those undergoing treatment.
And finally, the Shuniah Soilmates got $500 for Til the Beds are Made, which will purchase a rototiller to help them grow food and flowers for themselves and local charities.
Jamie Smith, communication co-ordinator at Tbaytel, said the community fund said it’s a chance to reward worthy projects and realize how many incredible people are out there doing good things throughout the region.
“It’s not always necessarily about the dollar figure, but this fund seems to be a catalyst for some pretty amazing initiatives that help our neighbours and help our community in ways that you might not have thought possible beforehand,” Smith said.
Tbaytel for Good awards funds twice each year.
