London, Ont. school 'overwhelmed' by support to replenish stolen holiday hamper items
After thieves broke into their school and ransacked their holiday hampers this past November, the students and staff at B. Davison Secondary School have been busy trying to replenish what was stolen.
Thanks to an outpouring of community support the school is now able to help even more families during the holidays.
“We are humbled, we are overwhelmed, we are so thankful,” says B. Davison Principal Renee Shave.
Shave says the community response has been incredible.
“We made our goal of 150 (hampers) and we are thrilled that we were able to do that, to support our kids and to support our community.”
Not only did the school reach their goal, but they surpassed it -- collecting enough donations to pay it forward, and donate to other schools.
“An incredible donation from McCormick, Fanshawe College reached out right away and wanted to be a part of what we are doing,” says Shave.
The school provides enough food in the hamper to sustain the students for two weeks while they are on holiday break, something that Scott Newman, the school’s hospitality chief, says is very important.
“The reason we started this hamper program…to begin with, was because we were worried about the two-week shutoff, possibly longer last year with COVID, and them going without wholesome, welcomed food,” he says.
Shave says this would not have been possible without support from teachers, students, community members, and organizations like the Rotary Club of East London who donated money.
All the funds go toward supporting the culinary program to make the food that is going into the baskets.
“I think people just were looking for something to hold on and to connect with," said Shave. "And they have. And they’ve donated, and it’s made them feel good and it’s made us feel good."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.