Submitted
For the students of Rimbey Junior Senior High and the Rimbey Elementary School, it’s not just school pride, it’s community pride.
The resounding success of the Stuff a Bus campaign, organized by the Grade 7 classes at the RJSHS, clearly reinforces that commitment. With contributions from students, staff, and community members, the donations were sorted and tallied, nearly filling the Spartans’ bus with 2,170 pounds of canned food and dry goods, along with over $350 in monetary donations.
“The students and staff at Rimbey Elementary School were honored to be a part of Stuff a Bus,” said Jodi Bramfield, principal at the Rimbey Elementary School, was the first to jump on board with the idea.
“It was an excellent way for RES students to learn about and demonstrate the importance of caring and giving back to our community. As a principal, I was proud of the effort and compassion that our students displayed to help make Stuff a Bus such a success.”
This sense of accomplishment and pride could be seen on the students’ faces as they carted the donations to the bus in assembly line fashion on the chilly Saturday afternoon. One of the volunteers, Heidi Trenson, a Grade 9 student at RJSHS who was accompanied by her mother and three siblings, expressed her appreciation for those who participated in the event: “It was great to see a bunch of students come out and help fill the bus with food and gifts. It made me feel that I was doing my part to give to the needy — 2170 lbs. is nearly two times the weight of my last year’s 4-H steer!”
This year, thanks to the many volunteers and staff from Family and Community Support Services, the food bank will send out well over 60 hampers, ensuring that families and individuals in Rimbey and the surrounding area will have a turkey or ham dinner and perhaps a few presents under the tree from Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick.
It is important to remember that the Rimbey food bank continues to serve individuals in our community on a year-round basis and that the post-holiday period often experiences a drop in donations, resulting in bare shelves. Individuals wishing to donate in the new year can contact the FCSS office directly at 403-843-2030.