blog

Inspired to Lend a Hand

December 9, 2021

No doubt your learning community, like ours, is filled with stories from students and staff that paint a picture of how impactful the floods have been.  One thing that is also worth noting is that it is in these moments of hardship and uncertainty that the kindness of others is reflected most evidently.

Several weeks ago, students and staff at William A. Fraser Middle were inspired by how people came together to help one another in this time of need.  Staff and students noticed that community members worked tirelessly to save the stranded, ensure damage was mitigated, roads were restored, and drainage systems worked properly.  They also noticed that people from all over the city helped their neighbours on the flats by cleaning up flood-damaged farms, drying out and sorting through families’ belongings, and working to restore barns and pens for animals. The community came together in many other ways too, many of which undoubtedly involved operating behind the scenes to simply do what needed to be done.

These acts of kindness and support inspired our students and prompted a desire to investigate ways to support as well. With adult help, the students reached out to the community to see what was needed by those affected by the flood, and those supporting the recovery effort.  The students and our staff determined that service through preparing meals was in demand.  The students decided to utilize our foods room and collaborated with our canteen worker Mrs. B, to create lunches to be delivered to city support centers.  Sandwiches, soups, muffins, fruit, and drinks were created and organized daily, and dropped off by staff to various farms and churches on Sumas Prairie.  Several areas were quickly identified as hubs of support coordination, and meals were either dropped off with them to distribute or at sites that they recommended.

The students and staff at Fraser were proud to offer some small service to those in need during this challenging time. As well as helping others, working together in such ways provides valuable service-based learning opportunities and are an experiential component of our new curriculum. They help develop a richer understanding of the community in which we live, and help students situate themselves among their peers as they pursue a common goal.  Volunteering to serve in our community also helps students establish natural connections between our learning community, and the greater community of which it is a part.

We would like to thank everyone who has responded (and continues to respond) to the challenges faced by our city.  It is through your continued help, both seen and unseen, that those affected by the floods can take steps toward recovery.

DEAN JOHNSTON & TYLER HORNER
W.A. Fraser Middle School