Nelson Firefighters give back with food for students fundraiser
By Contributor
Four elementary schools in School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) have received a combined $1300 toward food for students and families thanks to fundraising efforts by the Nelson Professional Firefighters Association Local 1343.
In December 2022, Nelson firefighters held a fundraiser to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada and for children and families at local schools who need assistance with food and meals.
Firefighters raised a total of $1300 for food equity, providing $325 each to Hume Elementary, South Nelson Elementary, Wildflower Nelson and Rosemont Elementary in the Nelson Family of Schools.
“The Nelson Professional Firefighters like to help different groups within the City of Nelson,” said Nelson Firefighter Chris Thast, who initiated the fundraiser.
“With my kids now in kindergarten, I had heard stories about the need for money through schools to support families and children who can’t afford food. We brought this need to the attention of our association as a worthy cause to support, and they went for it. We’re just trying to help out where we can.”
“The cost of living is always going up and there are a lot more families now struggling to pay for food,” said South Nelson Elementary Principal Jann Schmidt.
“There’s an ongoing need to support families who can’t pay for hot lunches, for snacks and for groceries. We’re really thankful to the Nelson Professional Firefighters for this donation which will go toward improving food equity in each of our schools.”
The money each school received will help pay for snacks for students during the school day, for programs that provide groceries to families in need and other food equity programs with the goal of seeing children well-nourished and ready to learn each day.
