Espanola High School (EHS) Students supported the Sagamok Food Bank Drive and the EHS annual initiative at the beginning of December. Josephine Toulouse, (High School Support Worker with Sagamok Education, and Karen Boyer, Indigenous Student Support Worker with EHS), along with several high school student volunteers, gathered at the MEC on December 10th from 3 to 6 p.m. to collect donations for the Food Bank Drive.
The Drive was organized to happen on the same day, at the same time, across much of the North Shore, including Sagamok and Whitefish River First Nations, as well as Massey, Webbwood, and Espanola. The goal was to collect 5,000 non-perishable items and cash donations to supply the Food Banks in the region with vital staples.
On-site at the MEC, and pictured, are Karen Boyer, Josephine Toulouse, Janice Toulouse, Vilena Toulouse, Mckenna Toulouse, Willow Solomon, Amani Bouzhkba, and Ariel Osinewe (not necessarily in that order). Photographed with permission is young Brandy Owl handing the students a bag of food items to fill the Kia. Also pictured is Stephen, the Cook at Biidaaban Kinoomaagegamik, offering a bag of food donations. Many Community Members also dropped by to donate cash.
In total, the Sagamok community donated 180 items and $206 to the Food Bank, and the region raised approximately half of its target goal. About 2,500 items were collected, not including cash donations. Great work!
Chi Miigwech to everyone for their efforts in coordinating this year’s Food Bank Drive, to the teachers and student volunteers for braving the cold weather outside to encourage donations, and to the generosity of our community members. Thank you for supporting this 'North Shore' effort to help ensure food security for some of our most vulnerable members.