Students at Ruth King and Savory elementaries in Langford who might not have otherwise had new crayons, pencils and other supplies to use to start this school year are the beneficiaries of a targeted donation from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91.
The Langford branch presented representatives from both schools with a $1,500 cheque to purchase supplies to be given directly to children whose families are struggling financially.
At Ruth King elementary on Tuesday, parents advisory council president Amber Lansdell piled the materials she recently purchased on a table in the school lobby.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for our school,” she said. “Not only does it take some of the pressure off the parents, it takes pressure off the teachers because they aren’t using their much-needed classroom supply money to get the basic supplies. So that opens up more doors for the children.”
Lansdell said she “had a blast” shopping for the supplies.
“It felt so good to be able to pick out all the little things that will be used so much in the classrooms this year.”
Markers, pencils, rulers, notebooks, scissors and paper are among the items to be given to students at the schools.
Norm Scott, president of Branch 91, said the Legion selected the two schools to be able to help families and students that are struggling.
“Our organization, we support youth as our main thing and giving to youth, making sure they have the tools they need for education, is getting harder and harder,” he said. Donating funds for the purchase of supplies, he added, “is a way for us to know that the students are getting the learning tools they need to adapt to the learning styes of today.”
Helping out like this at the elementary level, when children are in their formative years, is also important, Scott said.
“It’s an excellent way to give them a good start, because if they don’t get that good start, they’re behind the eight ball,” he said.
The Legion appreciates the opportunity to be a leader in the community, he added, “and be able to show (students and schools) that we’re there to support them.”
To find out more about the Royal Canadian Legion charitable donation programs, call 250-478-1828 or send an email through their website at rcl91.ca/contact.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com