FERGUS – Centre Wellington District High School (CWDHS) showed its support for Ukraine with a donation drive last week.
Through the school’s Sustainable Style Swap program, CWDHS teacher Jenna Olley said the school spent the week of Feb. 28 to March 4 collecting items to donate to a local church in support of Ukraine.
Abby Graham, who also spearheaded the Kindness Project at the school, approached Olley with the idea that she wanted to do something to help the people of Ukraine.
“She was feeling, I think, how most of us are feeling watching the situation really helpless and wanting to do something to help out,” Olley explained.
She put out an announcement on Feb. 28 and as of the morning of March 4, she said the school had roughly two carloads full of items.
All items collected were donated to St. Mary’s Ukrainian Church in Guelph.
“A lot of the donations are coming from staff and community members and some students as well,” she explained.
“But we’ve got an overwhelming amount of things.”
She noted a church in Arthur donated roughly three garbage bags full of handmade quilts and handmade baby hats as well.
“The outpouring from our community has been quite spectacular,” she said.
The deadline for donations was March 4, and Olley said the church the school partnered with has been overwhelmed by the amount of donations they’ve received.
The church is now looking for financial donations for certain Ukrainian organizations.
“So if anyone is looking to participate, or to help out in any way, the best strategy would be to connect with a local Ukrainian church if they have that in their community, and just see what the need is because it kind of changes,” said Olley.
“I think the financial route is a lot more efficient right now. I think they’re being overwhelmed by donations, but it’s just one small way that we can help out.”
Olley said the school was asking for items like baby clothes, diapers formula, first aid kits and supplies, feminine hygiene products and winter clothing.
“Schools have sort of become the focal point of communities, and community gathering and making social change,” Olley explained. “I think a lot of students are hungry for change, but they don’t necessarily know how to do that.
“So that’s one thing that we’re trying to do with some of our students in different initiatives throughout the school, just to keep kids engaged, to help them see that they actually have a great impact on our world, and it’s just by stepping up and doing small things like this.”
