“Together we can change the world, one good deed at a time.” Pay It Forwarders everywhere.
“Be the Change” — Gandhi.
“If you have much, give your wealth; if you have little, give your heart,” — anonymous.
On Thursday, May 26, students in grades 7 to 10 took these sentiments to heart, turning words into action by hosting the first ever Pay It Forward — Spring Carnival at the Tatla Lake School.
After doing some research, students chose, by consensus, to support our local Salvation Army.
“The Salvation Army helps people in so many ways,” says Grade 9 student Anna Zintl. “They have programs to help street youth, homeless people, offer services for people with addictions, run summer camps and provide palliative care for the sick. Also, for every dollar raised 88 cents goes to their programs. We really liked this.”
Students committed to the fundraising cause by attending after school PAC meetings to discuss the event and ask parents for support in the form of donations and running the concession. Additionally, students used their lunch hours to phone community members, personally inviting them to the event. Many students baked cakes for the cakewalk and all decorated the gym with balloons and streamers transforming it into a midway.
There were games for young and old from balloon darts to bingo. Grade 10 student Tyrone Ignatius hosted the bucket bonanza game; he made it look easy while either juggling or sinking the balls into their baskets (all while dressed in a grass shirt and hula garb).
Shantel Venn adorned the crowd with her face-painting skills and Grade 9 student Reece Hett had the little ones — hook, line and sinker at the fish pond.
The cotton candy and fresh hot popcorn machines were a huge hit as was the homemade chili dinner provided by the PAC.
At the end of the night our young adults at the Tatla Lake School treated the community to a night of fun as well as raising $460 for the Salvation Army — paying it forward to a very good cause.