Schools Receive Funds for Food from Nelson Firefighters

Four elementary schools in School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) have received a combined $1300 toward food for students and families thanks to fundraising efforts by the Nelson Professional Firefighters Association Local 1343. 

In December 2022, Nelson firefighters held a fundraiser to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Canada and for children and families at local schools who need assistance with food and meals. Firefighters raised a total of $1300 for food equity, providing $325 each to Hume Elementary, South Nelson Elementary, Wildflower Nelson and Rosemont Elementary in the Nelson Family of Schools. 

“The Nelson Professional Firefighters like to help different groups within the City of Nelson. With my kids now in kindergarten, I had heard stories about the need for money through schools to support families and children who can’t afford food. We brought this need to the attention of our association as a worthy cause to support, and they went for it. We’re just trying to help out where we can,” said Nelson Firefighter Chris Thast, who initiated the fundraiser. 

“The cost of living is always going up and there are a lot more families now struggling to pay for food. There’s an ongoing need to support families who can’t pay for hot lunches, for snacks and for groceries. We’re really thankful to the Nelson Professional Firefighters for this donation which will go toward improving food equity in each of our schools,” said South Nelson Elementary Principal Jann Schmidt. 

The money each school received will help pay for snacks for students during the school day, for programs that provide groceries to families in need and other food equity programs with the goal of seeing children well-nourished and ready to learn each day.

Photo: (l to r) Nelson Professional Firefighters Adam Banilevic, Marc Thibault and Rick Maida; Hume Elementary Principal Sacha Kalabis, South Nelson Elementary Principal Jann Schmid, Rosemont Elementary Principal Lindsay Mackay, and Wildflower School Principal Misty Terpstra; Nelson Professional Firefighters Lucas Fortier, Chris Thast and Cory Berndt.

School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) provides educational services to numerous diverse communities in the East & West Kootenays, including Crawford Bay, Creston, Kaslo, Meadow Creek, Nelson, Salmo, Slocan, South Slocan, Winlaw, Wynndel and Yahk. Its dedicated team focuses on providing the best possible educational opportunities for over 5400 students and their families. Its mission is to focus on excellence for all learners in a nurturing environment.