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WES students donate $10,000 to Red Cross

For years, students at Westlock Elementary School have been hard at work selling ice cream to raise money for the school’s charity fund.
L-R: Westlock Elementary School Grade 6 students Amin Abdumuminov, Ethan Legault, Jode Clements and Matthew Arndt prep supplies for their week-ending ice cream sale. May 4,
L-R: Westlock Elementary School Grade 6 students Amin Abdumuminov, Ethan Legault, Jode Clements and Matthew Arndt prep supplies for their week-ending ice cream sale. May 4, students presented the Alberta Red Cross with a $10,000 cheque, raised over the last several years by selling the ice cream bars.

For years, students at Westlock Elementary School have been hard at work selling ice cream to raise money for the school’s charity fund.

Last Wednesday, May 4, all that hard work paid off, as the school presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Alberta Red Cross’ Fort McMurray forest fire relief fund.

Working slowly, raising between $50 and $75 a week, the fund built steadily throughout the years, teacher Dan McDonald explained, and when students heard about the fires in Fort McMurray, they decided it was time to cash in on their classmates’ charity.

“We’ve been stockpiling for quite a while. It just kind of got away from us. We didn’t realize it was building as much as it had,” McDonald said.

“The kids are very, very up on the Fort McMurray news every weekend and every night.”

The donation will also see matching grants from both the provincial and federal governments.

To raise money, every Friday, McDonald’s Grade 6 students travel in pairs from classroom-to-classroom, selling ice cream bars purchased by the school.

The exercise, McDonald said, is also a chance for students to learn volunteerism and community spirit.

“They learn social interaction, dealing with the public, leadership skills, too, so it’s a whole ball of what they need to learn.”

Student Amin Abdumuminov said that he was proud of the donation and that being able to help out those struggling in Fort McMurray made the whole effort worthwhile.

“When we found out that we were giving the money to the Fort McMurray fire we were really excited,” Abdumuminov said.

“It feels good that you’re actually helping someone. All of those people, their houses are in ashes now.”

Classmate Kailee Martinson said that her own family’s experience gave her perspective on the troubles faced by those fleeing Fort McMurray.

“My mother was in two house fires, so it’s good to learn about all of the different things that we’re providing for all of the people who have lost their houses,” Martinson said.

WES principal Pierre Ouimet added that the students’ donation was, overall, a positive experience, both for the fire’s victims and for the students, themselves.

“It really is wonderful timing. We’ve had them putting this away for years and now with the timing, it’s pretty special,” Ouimet said.

“We were proud to make this donation on behalf of our learning community. Our hearts go out to the people of Fort McMurray and the many families in Westlock who have been affected by this disaster.”

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