Schools launch mega food drive

Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord
News Release

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Over 3,000 students and employees of the Nipissing region’s French-Catholic schools are taking part in a mega food drive this week. This large-scale charitable act will conclude Friday, October 5th, as schools offer the collected food to the food banks in their respective communities. In most areas, the children, accompanied by teachers, support staff, and parents, will form a human chain, handing over boxes of food from the schools to area food banks.

“Pour l’amour des nôtres” The food drive is the first of a three-part board-wide project, which is entitled “Pour l’amour des nôtres”, or “For the sake of our neighbours”. The project offers the French-Catholic Board’s staff and students the chance to experience concrete activities collaboratively, by practicing the Christian values of solidarity and generosity in their school communities. The 2007-2008 project involves the collection of both food and monetary donations by schools, for families in need, starting with the Thanksgiving Food Drive, followed by Christmas and Easter food drives.

As the project progresses, our students’ work will be posted on the CSCFN website, at www.franconord. edu.on.ca. It will then be possible to navigate the site to get a detailed description of the project, see photos taken during the various activities, and know the amounts of food and money raised by French-Catholic school students.

Raymond Lessard, Director of Education at Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord says that “the 2007-2008 school year promises us enormous personal growth as Christians. Together, we will manage to help families in need, our ‘neighbours’. What could be better for our students’ spiritual development, than to practice their faith through concrete acts? Their efforts, energy, and charity will evoke much emotion, I’m sure”.

Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord has 17 French-language Catholic schools, 14 elementary and 3 secondary. Over 3300 students attend a CSCFN school, covering the area including the municipalities of Thorne, Mattawa, Astorville, Bonfield, North Bay and West Nipissing.

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