“Our first foster child was born in 1998,” said teacher Shirley Low. “She was from Bogota, Columbia. Through donations, foster care sponsorship and support from around the world the village where JA’s sponsor lives is now self-sufficient. It is really rather wonderful to hear and it gives us all a sense of what a difference a small contribution can make to someone far away from Canada.”
The foster child sponsorship project was funded through recycling in the past and cupcake sales...which we are no longer allowed to sell,” said Low. “We have a bottle drive each year that brings in quite a bit, but we need to find a new way to continue financing our latest child.”
In September of 2010, John Allison School took on a new foster child. “She is a baby,” stated Low. “Now she is our baby.” Jimena Abad was born on October 6, 2009 in Peru. World Vision oversees her sponsorship. “Jimena’s mother wrote to us that she is happy we are helping her daughter,” added Low.
Because of new fundraising barriers, the school and staff had become more creative and brainstormed a new fundraiser for their foster child. “We are going to raise money with art for others,” said parent Mikki Ransome. “Students will donate a piece of their art to be sold by donation in a gallery at the school which will be set up and held on May 18 in the school,” stated Ransome. It’s going to be fabulous. The staff will be baking delicious treats to be sold in a bistro setting. We are calling it the Flamingo Bistro. The fundraiser will celebrate Fine Arts and teaching students that no matter how young and small they are, they can make a difference, so come join us. The community is welcomed and encouraged to attend.”
“The PAC helped us at the beginning of the year with sponsorship to get going,” added Low. “We really appreciated their support. Now it is our turn to get some real sponsorship funds together to keep her going,” Low concluded “and we really hope the community will be there to help us meet our goals too.”