Water, sugar, flour and a lot of dedication. Seven Grade 4 John Stubbs elementary students use those simple ingredients and more, rolling, mixing and dusting home-made baked goods for sale during lunch breaks at school. All this in the name of fundraising for the Mustard Seed Foundation.
“These are kids are from all different spaces and places and they converged together to make something happen. I thought it was a pretty great feat,” said parent Patty Ross. “These kids are 10 years old; it is hard for them to think about more than just themselves and where they are going in the world.”
Not once, but twice the students put their heads together, making little signs, organizing who made what, then selling the goods during their 20-minute lunch break. They raised $144 the first time and $100 the second. Their goal is to keep going until they reach $500, after which they’ll present the money to the foundation, that helps provide for those in need.
“The group is really dedicated to their cause and I thought it was impressive that they devised a plan, organized themselves and followed through not once, but twice,” Ross said.
She hopes this type of behaviour spurs others to do more “bucket filling” – filling someone else’s bucket – so young students learn to do for others what some do for them. The young bakers’ teacher, Lukas Laurie, said learning community spirit in class helps push those ideals to extracurricular activities.
“It was their own job, they were the ones organizing it, advertising it, doing the research, doing everything,” he said. “It wasn’t part of the class, it wasn’t part of the course, it was something they did on their own.”
Laurie’s Grade 4 and 5 split class was the same group that helped the City of Colwood win the Greater Victoria Flower Count’s Most Bloomingest Community title for a second time, helping tabulate more than two billion blooms.
“I am so proud of all the kids in my class, not just the ones who did the bake sale, but those supporting them on their fundraising efforts (too). I think it’s all about them giving back to their community, that is the biggest thing.”
For Makayla Ross, Patty’s daughter and one of the bake sale organizers, the plight of the homeless and other people in need prompted her to help out. She is already planning the group’s next sale for early May, hoping to get one step closer to their financial goal.
“It was really important, it made me feel really good,” Makayla said. “It just made me really happy.”