R.F. Staples School’s Breakfast Program is the latest recipient of $11,000 from the local branch of 100 Women Who Care.
Proving strength is in numbers, the 100 Women Who Care pooled their $400 annual membership fee and donated a quarter of their funds every three months to a worthwhile, local non-profit, or charitable organization within the area. Now 110 women strong, the $11,000 donation March 15 was presented to the school’s breakfast program.
Presenters from the program told the women of how students were coming to school that had nothing to eat each morning.
Parent and Food Studies teacher Keltey Buchko said she began doing some fundraising to be able to purchase quick and easy breakfast items for the students, which was the beginning of the program.
“I see the need,” she said. “Many come each and every morning for some cereal.”
Buchko said every month through the program, they buy approximately 48 litres of milk, 16 family-size boxes of cereal, 60 pounds of fresh fruit, 200 granola bars, 120 fruit cups every day, as well as over 150 individual muffins or cookies or cinnamon buns made by kids in the school.
“We’re spending about $350 a month to feed students,” she said, noting that the funding from the 100 Women Who Care will secure the program for at least three years.
Some of the students are couch-surfers, principal Courtney Lawrance explained — kids who don’t have a place to live.
Student counsellor Maurice St. Denis, who has worked at the school for 12 years, said he has seen the level of need “increase exponentially.”
“We know that children who come to school hungry have a difficult time concentrating, focusing on specific tasks, and their level of retention is impacted,” he noted.
He also has noticed that many of the students he deals with come to school without the basic necessities, but he has seen some positive impacts as a result of the breakfast program.
100 Women Who Care
Every three months, 100 Women Who Care Westlock meet.
Three non-profit or charitable groups seeking some funding assistance, who are nominated by a member of the group, get the chance to make a presentation.
Each has five minutes to make a presentation and five more to answer any questions.
After each of the three groups have made their presentation, the women vote by secret ballot. Members unable to attend the meeting can have another member vote for them.
Jon Kingma spoke on behalf of Westlock’s Youth for Christ, while Erin Chapotelle, co-ordinator for Westlock Parent Link, put her bid in for funding.
Since the R.F. Staples Breakfast Program was chosen as recipient, Youth for Christ and Parent Link names will be put back into the draw barrel and could come up at a future meeting for consideration.
At the first 100 Women Who Care meeting late last fall, $9,600 went to the Westlock and District Food Bank.
While 110 women was the number this past week, membership has already grown again, so the next award will be even greater.
“One hundred per cent of the donation goes to the winning organization,” Ducharme emphasized.
The next evening to give away $11,000 or more to a non-profit or charitable organization will be held June 21.
Women who wish to learn more about the organization can contact: Deneen Ducharme at 780-349-0302, e-mail [email protected]; Denise Boulerice at 780-307-1599, e-mail [email protected]; Kathy Hall at 780-307-1197, e-mail earthangel [email protected]; Tammy Round at 780-307-1235, e-mail [email protected]
