Origins of the Clothing and Snack Drive

Just over a week ago, I posted on Facebook that "You know the West Vancouver stereotypes are true when your child's fun lunch program includes ingredients like free-range chicken and brie cheese."

A few hours later, a friend commented on the post, writing, "Geez. Just before I read this, I read a DTES elementary teacher's request on Facebook for children's socks, shoes and snacks for kids that don't have these things on a daily basis. Seymour Elementary. The glaring inequality in our city frustrates me quite often."

It frustrates me too. And as soon as I read his comment, I knew I wanted to do something about it. The next morning, as I was driving to work, I heard an interview on the radio with Carrie Gelson, the teacher who had made the request, whose Facebook posting about her school's needs had since gone viral.

Carrie described trying to teach children who come to school hungry, without proper shoes, or socks. Children who sometimes burst into tears in the middle of class and have to be sent to the cloakroom, because she can't stop teaching the other students to help the one who is having a meltdown. She pleaded for Vancouverites to donate clothes, food, and their time as art therapists and counsellors to help these kids.

The response she got was overwhelming. Over the next few days, individuals were walking into Seymour Elementary with cheques for $1000 and donations of food, clothing, and time. Clearly, her story touched the hearts of many people across the city.

By then, I had contacted the Pauline Johnson PAC and Principal David Langmuir to see if they would support Pauline Johnson hosting a clothing and snack drive. Not surprisingly, given Pauline Johnson's long tradition of social responsibility, they were enthusiastic in their support.

As Seymour Elementary was being flooded with donations, I contacted three other inner-city elementary schools to see what their needs were.

Like Seymour Elementary, the needs of students at these schools are staggering. Many students come to school to get breakfast, but are hungry again by afternoon. Kindergarteners and grade one students need class sets of rain jackets and rain boots so they can all go outside and play when its raining. Kids of all ages don't have socks or underwear, pants and warm shirts, jackets, hats and gloves to keep them warm.

These schools receive offers by volunteers to lead music and sports programs, but many of the students don't have the instruments and the sports equipment needed to participate in them. For example, Lord Strathcona has been invited to give their students ski lessons—the problem is the kids don't have proper ski clothes. A musician would like to teach students at Sir William MacDonald how to play the guitar, or ukelele, but the school doesn't have the resources to buy ukeleles.

A clothing and snack drive is a small step in helping these students get through the winter with food in their bellies and warm clothes on their backs. It doesn't really address the more systemic social problems that make it possible for some kids to go to school without a lunch, while across the Lions Gate Bridge other students have brie-and-ham sandwiches for lunch. But it's a start.
 
Some more background:

Cary Gelson's original letter: http://www.theprovince.com/columnists/Full+text+Carrie+Gelson+letter+community/5464503/story.html

Carrie Gelson's thank you to the citizens of Vancouver: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2011/09/30/seymour-teacher-carrie-gelson-says-thanks/

While there are concerns about the methodology and fairness of the Fraser Institute's controversial "school report cards" they do an offer an interesting snapshot of our school system.
The difference in academic ranking between Pauline Johnson and most of Vancouver's inner city schools is shocking. As is the fact that the average household income of families at Pauline Johnson is $145,000, while the average income for parents at Lord Strathcona elementary is less than $23,000. http://britishcolumbia.compareschoolrankings.org/elementary/Default.aspx