Students at a local elementary school in Chatham stepped up to assist Syrian refugee families Friday.
The students of Georges P. Vanier School donated more than $2,500 to the Chatham parishes’ Refugee Fund. The fund is co-ordinated by St. Agnes, Blessed Sacrament, St. Joseph and St. Ursula parishes.
The concept to fundraise on the refugees’ behalf came from the school’s social justice committee, according to Jo-Ann Burton, the teacher who oversees the committee. She said she was impressed with how the students tackled the issue.
“I was worried it was going to be a very polarizing issue, but this was chosen by our team,” she said. “We looked at it from the perspective of Christianity. We welcome all people.”
Principal Kerry Matthyssen was equally impressed, as the students addressed a global issue.
“This has been an important project of our school’s social justice team,” she said. “We have learned about the plight of the Syrian people and we are doing our part to help them as they find new homes in Canada.”
The fundraising at Vanier began before Valentine’s Day, as the sales of candygrams that day helped kick off the quest for coin. A read-a-thon in March also contributed to the fundraising, Burton said.
Way to go GPV!!