L.A. Matheson yearly fundraiser draws another $2,500 for seniors housing facility
For the second year in a row, L.A. Matheson Secondary students raised money for the Guru Nanak Diversity Village during Sikh Heritage Month in April, bringing in $2,500 for the new senior care home.
The yearly fundraiser, started last year by students in teacher Gurpreet Bains’ Punjabi classes, has raised a total of $10,771 to date for the facility being built by the Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society.
“One of the reasons we started this fundraiser last year was because we couldn’t do anything for Vaisakhi or Sikh Heritage Month,” said Bains. “We picked this charity because we saw the effects of the pandemic on seniors and we thought we could help that cause.”
The original fundraiser began with a goal of $700. That goal was shattered in the fundraiser’s first year, with students collecting more than $7,000 in donations.
While fundraising last year was mostly online due to restrictions during the pandemic, this year offered more in-person opportunities for students to gather donations.
“We basically involved the entire school and had a friendly competition going between classes to inspire and raise more funds,” said Bains. “We were still so happy to raise $2,500.”
Bains said a core team of students – Grade 12 student Gurkirt Kaur Manhas and Grade 11 students Baldeep Kaur Sahota, Amanpreet Singh and Balreet Kaur Randhawa – took on leadership roles and volunteered a lot of time and energy to fundraising..
As a result of the school’s efforts, PICS has invited the fundraising team to a luncheon at the current seniors home, marking a return to in-person visits at care facilities.
“We are going there in person to meet some of the seniors, three of whom turn 100 this year,” said Bains. “The students get to see how these funds are so needed and how they are helping seniors. It’ll be a very enriching experience for kids to see in person.”
While students campaign during Sikh Heritage Month, the school accepts donations year-round and anyone can donate by contacting L.A. Matheson Secondary or visiting the school website.
The school has a long-term goal of raising $13,000 over four years, but with more than 80% raised in just half the time, Bains said there’s a good chance students may exceed the goal next year and pursue a larger amount in the final year of fundraising.
“The kids are really wanting to do this, it’s something they ask about even before Sikh Heritage Month comes along,” she said. “Some of our alumni have also made donations and said they want to help.
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