We are excited to see interest in our worthy cause is increasing! Here is a page from Rotary Canada’s national monthly publication, October 2015 edition. Monthly publications are sent to the homes of every Rotary member in Canada. Please take a look.
The Aldergrove Starfish Backpack Program has not only been continued for the 2015/2016 school year – it has been expanded. There are 30 more backpacks than last year and one more school has been added to the program.
We are extraordinarily grateful to be selected by Abbotsford’s Golf Pro Nick Taylor and his wife Andie as their charity of choice. RIGHT NOW, we are in a social media challenge to support Nick Taylor and Team RBC as they work together to support the charities they love. Together they could raise up to $300,000 between 15 charities. The best part of the challenge is that we have the power to impact the outcome of this challenge for STARFISH PACK by participating on social media! The challenge ends July 20.
“I see the importance of an organization like the Starfish Pack Program because it recognizes the need for change within our own community and helps meet a basic need for the children they help” – Andie Taylor
In photo: (left to right: Cindy Schafer (Board of Education Chair), Dave Murray (Abbotsford Food Bank Manager), Hugh Ellis (President of Abbotsford Rotary Club), Kevin Godden (Superintendent of School District 34)
The Abbotsford Rotary Club and Abbotsford Food Bank were honoured with the inaugural Community Matters Award on June 16 by the Abbotsford Board of Education at a public meeting.
The Board established the annual ‘Community Matters Award’ earlier this year to recognize community partners who have made a significant contribution to the lives of students in the Abbotsford School District. The award is intended to acknowledge an organization that has exceeded its service mandate to children.
“Community involvement in the Abbotsford School District has been a long and valued tradition,” says Board of Education Chair Cindy Schafer. “Numerous organizations, such as this year’s recipients, contribute resources and countless hours of volunteer service to enable our students to achieve success in school. This is a way for the Board of Education to more formally express its appreciation and acknowledge the support of those involved in such service to our students. This year we are delighted to honour the Abbotsford Rotary Club, Abbotsford Food Bank and Kiwanis Clubs of Abbotsford and Clearbrook.”
LETTER FROM A PRINCIPAL
Thursday, April 2, 2015
As students and families at our school have been part of the Starfish backpack program for at least the past 2 years, I just wanted to take a moment to share with you some successes we have noticed.
The Starfish Pack Backpack Program was created in response to teachers hearing the cry of their students. Teachers were heartbroken to hear their students were coming to class Monday morning hungry, reporting that they had not eaten over the weekend. Sadly, 400 elementary school children have been identified by the Abbotsford School District as being in need of food over the weekend. Now over 300 backpacks are packed with food and are going home with the students over the weekend from 35 different schools.
“400 elementary school children are going without food over the weekend”