North Bay Police Association, students, raise donations for local Food Bank

The children at Silver Birches made a bold challenge to the North Bay Police Association happen on Friday afternoon in the form of a Volleyball match.

The games were proposed by the students as a centerpiece to help raise donations for the North Bay Food Bank.

All the grade 7 and 8 elementary students who brought in donations were eligible to take part in the game and test their skills against the athletic experience of the city police.

University ranked players and students at Nipissing also made special guest appearances for the game for a good cause.

With such a high level players, the Nip U students were easily able to push the balance of the game in favour of the city police until the young people and their spirit made them have a change of heart and join the Silver Birches student squad.

With these strong players as a backbone, the students were able to develop their team strategy and let their skills shine, turning the tables on the city police, eventually winning 3 out of the 4 games in the end.

Many who participated in the event were exhilarated and simply said it was really fun, undoubtedly fatigued yet refreshed from the social activity.

“We all worked as a team,” says Silver Birches student Morgan Marz.

The North Bay police officers, while frustrated with their loss, were happy to come out and help such a great bunch of students at a great school such as Silver Birches.

Aaron Northrup, President of the North Bay Police Association, says that the goal was to raise donations for the Food Bank, noting that his team added 200 items to the growing pile of donations given by the students and teachers.

“Although we lost the tournament, everybody still won,” says Northrup.

Teacher and event organizer Sarah Leger says that while a large amount of food was raised, much more was needed and the food bank could always use more help despite their successful fundraising campaigns.

Leger pointed out that this event gives the student a chance to not only be active and meet some of the local police, but also helps them realize that being generous to those in need can be fun and rewarding in its own way.

“I know that this time of year, the Food Bank is in dire need of replenishment so what better way to help than by challenging the students to give canned goods and they did, about a thousand,” says Leger.