Warmth provided by caring people
Student council launches winter clothing drive in Chester
Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 26, 2014
CHESTERFIELD INLET
Student council members at Victor Sammurtok School (VSS) are doing their best to ensure every youth stays warm in Chesterfield Inlet this winter.
Student council president Louisa Putulik, left, and vice-president Kelsey Aggark display some of the items donated to their clothes drive at Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet on Nov. 20, 2014. - photo courtesy of Glen Brocklebank |
The students are running a winter clothing drive from Nov. 20 to 28, led by president Louisa Putulik and vice-president Kelsey Aggark, both Grade 12 students.
Putulik, 18, said she took the idea to student council after seeing a Facebook posting on Rankin Inlet Sell-Swap.
She said as far as she knows, it's the first time VSS student council has tried a program like this.
"I think the drive will do well because we got off to a good start," said Putulik. "We still want to get more names of kids who could use the clothing, but I'm worried some people are too shy to contact us with a name. I see kids all the time who I can tell are really cold, especially when they're outside after school."
Aggark, 17, said she first heard the idea during a student council meeting.
She said she was for it right away, and knows it could really help a number of kids in her community.
"I see kids outside without enough warm clothing, and we get a lot of blizzards in Chester," said Aggark. "Some kids walk a long distance when they're out playing, and I've seen them shivering and wished I could do something to help. I was kind of worried the drive wouldn't go that well, but I'm hoping people realize this can really help others and donate any winter clothes they don't use."
Putulik said the drive is another way VSS can give back to the community.
She said it's important for student council to be involved in projects like this and its annual Christmas hamper.
"We have days when we can bring in a perishable food item and get a point for our school spirit team.The school collects the food, and student council has the RCMP deliver the hampers so everyone has a Christmas meal.
"People in Chester are very good at helping each other out, and the hamper and clothes drives are another way we can all do that."
Aggark said the drive is important because every student should be dressed warmly during the winter.
She said this past winter was really cold, and there were kids in every grade coming to school in jackets that weren't warm enough.
"Right away, one person at school said they had lots of old parkas in their closet they'd donate and that's exactly what we wanted to see.
"The drive shows the community students at VSS care about each other.
"Louisa and I hope, if people have extra clothes just taking up space in their closet, this will remind them they could be used by other people in the community."
