For more than 20 years, students at Delta Secondary School (DSS) have collected food and gifts, and assembled hampers for families in need in the school community to help them through the festive season.
Last year, DSS gathered thousands of food items, hundreds of gifts and more than $7,000 in gift cards.
This year, knowing that many more families are in need of support, the school community is hoping to match or exceed last year’s success with this year’s Twenty Days of Giving campaign. The goal again is to collect enough food, supplies and gift card donations to help 25 local families as well as the local food bank.
“This hands-on experience has really emphasized the importance of community and been a powerful example of what we can do when we all work together,” said teacher Colleen Blatz, organizer of this initiative since 1999.
This initiative has become a wonderful holiday tradition, and each year, students have managed to be more and more successful in helping members of the Ladner community. Even retired staff and former students contact the school to see how they can continue to get involved and contribute.
Other teachers involved include Graham Harkley, Paige Collings and Carla Day.
“We have many students who are ready and willing to help, including Student Government and the Interact Club. We also encourage the local community to join in our initiative and help us to help others in need,” added Blatz.
The Twenty Days of Giving campaign starts today (Nov. 14) and will run until Dec. 2. Any community members who would like to help are invited to drop off non-perishable food items and new toiletry items in the drop box at the school’s main entrance, located at 4615 51st Street, between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. For donations of cash or gift cards, please call ahead to the school office at 604-946-4194 to make arrangements. Monetary donations of $25 or more requiring a tax receipt should be provided in a cheque written to Delta Secondary School (memo: 20 Days of Giving).
The school’s Interact Club will also be running their third annual Food and Donation Drive-Thru event on Nov. 29 for “Giving Tuesday,” from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the school parking lot.
