Some students in Courtenay will receive a nice surprise in time for the new school year — a backpack filled with basic school supplies they likely would not have been able to afford otherwise.
Earlier this summer, local Telus Community Ambassadors gave 80 school bags filled with supplies to elementary, secondary and alternative schools in Courtenay, which will distribute them to students in need.
Across Canada, nearly 9,500 students will receive a kit this fall, thanks to the Telus Kits for Kids program.
This year, Telus Community Ambassadors in Upper Vancouver Island rolled up their sleeves and prepared the school bags for young students in Courtenay, filling them with the necessary school supplies for each grade: pencils, glue sticks, notebooks, loose leaf paper, scissors, erasers, pencil cases, rulers, and much more.
This initiative was part of the Telus Day of Giving, an annual event during which Telus team members from across Canada donate their time and help local organizations.
“Going to school in September is a challenging time for many young people. They don’t need the added strain of not being able to afford the basic school supplies all their friends have, not to mention the impact that can have on their ability to learn and grow. They deserve the same chance as every other student, and we’re determined to provide it to them,” said Gordon Cromer, president of Telus Community Ambassadors on Upper Vancouver Island.
“Telus’ Community Ambassadors are volunteers who are passionate about Telus’ ‘we give where we live’ philosophy, and this work of equipping kids for school has been an integral part of the Telus Community Ambassador tradition for many years.”
Every year, Telus Ambassadors provide volunteer services at community events and support dozens of philanthropic programs and initiatives. In 2010, they distributed more than 8,000 school bags to kids in need and nearly 10,000 comfort kits containing personal hygiene items to the homeless.
— Telus