Fort St. John school’s fundraising campaign underway for Hurricane Melissa victims

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A middle school in Fort St. John is paying it forward to help the international community.

Students from Fort St. John’s Dr. Kearney Middle School begun the Dr. Kearney Helps Out campaign on Monday, November 17th, in an effort to raise much-needed staples for the island of Jamaica as it recovers from Hurricane Melissa.

The storm saw heavy winds and rainfall rip through the Caribbean last month, devastating the western part of Jamaica, displacing tens of thousands and damaging roads and infrastructure in its wake.

The Jamaica Information Service reported 88 emergency shelters were still being used across nine parishes as of November 12th.

The initiative at Dr. Kearney was begun by Cassandra Baker-Watson. At one time the institution’s resource teacher, she now serves as the school’s guidance counsellor.

A native of Jamaica, she wanted to get desperately-needed resources to affected areas forgotten by humanitarian efforts. 

“I aligned it with the core competencies and curricular outcomes for British Columbia,” said Baker-Watson to Energeticcity.ca. “One is about being global citizens and understanding what’s happening around the world and communicating and advocating.

“This event helps students as well to develop empathy and understanding and compassion for others. So it’s twofold. A community will benefit, but also the students will get the opportunity to share what they have, learn empathy and how to be part of a local community.”

The initiative involves students raising resources in the school’s classrooms for non-perishable food items, hygiene products and first aid supplies.  Each classroom at the school has its own bin.

At the end of this week, the school will tally the final totals of items raised from each class. The class with the top haul will get a pizza party.

On Friday, November 21st, the school at 10723 92nd Street in Fort St. John will be open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the community to contribute. Baker-Watson is “hopeful” the community will help out, and has received an abundance of support from staff and students at the school.

“When we initiated this conversation with our students, I was surprised how many students came to me asking if they could volunteer,” said Baker-Watson. “Even within the school district, we have received so much support. 

“Everyone has been reaching out and asking questions.”

Baker-Watson still has family in Jamaica. She told Energeticcity.ca while her relatives are fine, many communities continue to be affected.

“There is so much devastation,” said Baker-Watson. “Some communities [have been] left behind, and some communities were unreachable. We are targeting communities and children. That’s something that we want to look at. How can we support the students as well?”

Dr Kearney Helps Out will take place on Friday, November 21st from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Dr. Kearney Middle School at 10723 92nd Street in Fort St. John, as the event will be a free drop-in public gathering.