The Squamish Food Bank will have another $5,000 to help people in need thanks to the efforts of three Grade 10 students.
Amelia Hubner, Kaitlyn Kostiuk and Bee Wolfe were the winners in the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) finals at Howe Sound Secondary’s Eagle Eye Theatre on Friday morning.
“We’re really happy to win this for them,” Hubner said, adding how she was looking forward to contacting the food bank to give them the news.
YPI is a project of the Toskan Casale Foundation, which works to support social issues through grassroots efforts. Launched in 2001, the foundation is based in Toronto.
Representative Tia Borden complimented the students on their energy and their presentations.
“You guys are doing an amazing thing for your community,” she said.
On its website, YPI states its aim is to strengthen the social sector by engaging secondary students in social issues, local charities and grant-making.
Howe Sound Secondary has taken part in the event for six years. To compete, Grade 10 planning students work together to get behind a cause and promote it.
Students usually start in November or December for the fall semester or February or March for the spring semester.
The three winners admitted they got a bit of a late start, but that did not seem to hold them back when it came time for the finals. Wearing their We Heart Squamish Food Bank T-shirts, the three gave a polished presentation on the work of the food bank, its volunteers, community supporters and history since it was founded 30 years ago.
The three students told their peers how much support the food bank provides and how a third of its clients are children. “That could be people just like us whose families don’t have enough money,” Wolfe said.
With some boisterous classmates cheering on the teams, the three were up against Haifei You and Chenxi Li promoting the Howe Sound Women’s Centre’s transition house. This facility provides a refuge from abusive relationships for women and children.
The third team of Scott Konkin, Teresa Donovan and Ian McNaughton were supporting the Squamish Hospital Foundation, which raises funds for the purchase of equipment the local hospital needs, such as CT scanner.
All of the teams in the final emphasized the work that each organization does, how it raises money and the level of support from the Squamish community.
Teacher Carolyn MacDougall, who oversees the school’s event along with fellow planning teachers Nathalie Boisvert, Sue Timms and Fran Booth, said several Grade 12 students who had competed in the past served as judges for their younger peers during the finals.
“They’ve done it before and know what to expect,” MacDougall said.
This year the panel included school trustee Rachael Lythe and Councillor Peter Kent from the District of Squamish as guest judges.
In past years, students have rallied behind area causes such as the Squamish Helping Hands Society and Sea to Sky Community Services. “We try to keep it grassroots,” MacDougall said.
