By Abby Luciano, North Shore News
Grade 6 Montroyal Elementary students Isla Hockley and Maya Darowski are all smiles carrying baking supplies and spices to donate to the food bank later this month. | Abby Luciano / North Shore News
Sugar, spice and everything nice.
That's the inspiration behind a baking supply drive at Montroyal Elementary in North Vancouver. Students and staff are collecting items to donate to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank later this month, hoping to help North Shore families in need bake holiday treats.
“I think lots of people are looking for different ways to give back at this time of year, and this one seemed unique,” said Montroyal principal Nicky Mey, adding that this is a great way to focus on a specific need the food bank has right now.
Grade 6 and 7 students at Montroyal are spearheading the initiative, collecting items themselves and encouraging donations from friends and family through word of mouth, morning announcements and posters.
“It is really nice, because if you’re helping people on Christmas, it’s not about the getting, it’s about the giving,” said Grade 7 student Luke Dale.
Maya Darowski, Isla Hockley, Nicky Mey, Logan Dalby, Noah Darowski, Russ Froehlich, Luke Dale, Morgan Vo and Isabelle Saxby hold baking supplies at Montroyal Elementary last week as they prepare a donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Dec. 10. | Abby Luciano / North Shore News
Tine Parker, district administrator of Healthy Futures, said this is the first baking supply donation drive for Montroyal, though the initiative began within the school district in May of last year.
“There [is] such a need because a food bank focuses on fresh produce, meats, dairy, eggs, all fresh food for families,” Parker said. “And there’s a need for spices and baking goods, always.”
Montroyal launched the campaign at the end of November and has already collected dozens of baking staples, including flour, sugar, chocolate chips, cinnamon and vanilla extract. Mey said collecting these items can go a long way for families during the holidays.
“I noticed the prices of spices are really creeping up," she said, adding that the donation drive is a simple and accessible way to help families do something fun over the holidays.
Extending their impact further, Mey said Montroyal is having a friendly competition with Cleveland Elementary to match or exceed their donation amount.
Grade 7 Montroyal Elementary students Isabelle Saxy and Morgan Vo show some of their favourite baking items as part of a donation drive to help in-need families bake this holiday season. | Abby Luciano / North Shore News
“We thought maybe we’ll actually burst the banks of the food bank this season with all these amazing things, because everybody’s coming together with collective competitive energy to do the right thing,” Mey said.
On top of giving back to the community, Mey, Parker and the students all emphasized that baking fosters family togetherness, a sense of belonging and cherished childhood memories – qualities they hope to share with others through their holiday donations.
“I feel when I cook with my family, we’re all doing something together and we’re all part of something, and the end result is even better,” said Grade 7 student Isabelle Saxby.
Those interested can donate baking supplies and spices at Montroyal until Dec. 10. After that date, the school will pack up the donations to be delivered to the food bank.
Donations can also be made until Dec. 31 at the North Shore Neighbourhood House, North Vancouver District Hall, Silver Harbour Seniors Activity Centre and the West Vancouver Seniors Activity Centre. Visit foodbank.bc.ca for more information on the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
