Gentle action will bring change
By James Buchok
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Harvest food bank’s 13th annual Operation
Donation food drive was launched Jan. 24 at Samuel Burland School (K-8),
with staff, students and parents packing the gym and promising to make
this year’s food drive the biggest ever.
David Northcott, executive director of Winnipeg Harvest, said more than
50 per cent of the food bank’s clients are children. “It’s
more relevant than ever that schools are aware of this disturbing trend,” Northcott
said. “This partnership continues to grow each year and to see
the generosity of so many to assist those who otherwise would go hungry
is a testament of our caring community.”
Across Manitoba, schools from K-12 will help Winnipeg Harvest by collecting
non-perishable food items, including baby food, canned vegetables, tuna,
soup, fruit, pasta and much more. Over the past 12 years, Operation
Donation has collected nearly one million pounds of food.
The food drive takes place from Feb. 27 to March 2 and is supported by
the Manitoba Teachers Society and Manitoba Public Insurance, and is matched
by Peak of the Market, a grower-owned not-for-profit vegetable supplier,
and by Canada Safeway.
Manitoba Public Insurance offices collect food as part of the campaign;
Peak of the Market supports the students’ efforts by matching what
is donated pound for pound in fresh vegetables and Canada Safeway matches
pound for pound in non-perishable food items.
The principal of Samuel Burland School, Arpena Babaian, said the school
has been part of Operation Donation since the food drive began in 2000.
“It encourages children to care. Even though they are young they
can make a difference. Even the smallest child can understand sharing,” Babain
said. She described the student body as “400 activists in the making,
doing what they can, even if it’s just a little, for no reward.”
Superindent of the Louis Riel School Division, Terry Borys, said Burland
was the first school in the division to get involved “and as a
result of the example of this staff and these students, we decided all
40 schools in the division should be involved. They are giving back to
those in need in the middle of a long winter.”
Burland graduate Katherine Amos, now in Grade 11, said being part of Operation Donation led her to other opportunities to volunteer in the community. “I’ve learned a lot and I’ve met a lot of amazing people. To help other people is the most amazing feeling you can ever have.
People across the
world are starving but first we have to help people in our own community
who are starving and homeless. We can do it, don’t give up.”
Marissa MacCorby, now in Grade 12, remembers being part of the first
Operation Donation when she was in Grade 1 at Burland. “I looked
forward to it each year,” she said, adding that the experience
fuelled her passion for volunteering. She explained how Winnipeg Harvest
began in 1985 as a temporary support for those in need and it was to
close by 1995.
“But the effort goes on,” MacCorby said. “We as a
community have the power to shape things and achieve the goal set by
Winnipeg Harvest 27 years ago.”
“A gentle action will change the face of this planet,” said Northcott. “The gentle action here is going to serve the needs of food banks in Manitoba.”
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