Recent Articles in ‘Solutions’
Adopt-A-School: For many kids, spring break is lonely, hungry time
By Daphne Bramham Spring break for many kids means a trip to Disneyland or Whistler or going to one of the many kid-friendly attractions around the city, whether it’s bowling or Science World. But for others, it’s a lonely, scary and often hungry time. “School is the centre of the universe for many children and
Adopt-a-School: Wishing Tree finally starts to deliver
When they painted the Wishing Tree in the main hall of Queen Alexandra elementary school some years ago it was for children to place wishes in the foliage as if affixing their heart’s desires to a mural might somehow create its own magic. Improbable as it sounds, it seems to have worked, although not in
Vancouver Sun’s Adopt-a-School program has inspired unexpected positive side-effects and quiet acts of kindness
Last year’s Adopt-a-School campaign officially ended on Dec. 31, but four and a half months later, on April 19, two gymnastic instructors arrived unannounced in The Vancouver Sun’s newsroom with a thick bundle of $20 bills, a couple of cheques and a hefty bag of rolled-up coins. All told, $1,749. It had been raised quietly
Inner-city school food deliveries switch to centres for summer
When Jim Duggan dived head first into helping poor inner-city families receive fresh fruit and vegetables, he didn’t realize how fathomless is the pool of want. Inspired to help by The Sun’s Adopt-a-School stories describing the needs of poverty-stricken children and families, Duggan pledged to spend $500 a month on fruit and vegetables and distribute
The truth about child poverty: B.C. has had the highest rate in Canada for eight years
Children are going to school in Metro Vancouver without food, without shoes, without winter coats or mittens. Some are tormented by bedbug bites; others with head lice. The stories are as heartbreaking as they seem incredible in this City of Glass so often described as one of the most livable in the world, and in
London Drugs toy tour brightens up lives of families experiencing tough times
When the school bells ring today signalling the start of Christmas holidays, it will be a joyful time for many kids. Not so for students who are going home to places where there is not enough food to stretch through the holidays, let alone money for extras like a visit from Santa. This week, London
Free breakfast and lunch programs provide a major boost to learning results
If there’s one dramatic no-brainer in our collective desire to see kids’ classroom performances improve, it’s this: to feed the mind, first feed the body. For half a century now, scholarly study after scholarly study has found that hungry or ill-nourished kids are at a disadvantage when it comes to the mental demands of classroom
Nickelback raises money for BC Kids Hospital – Schools next?
The Vancouver Sun applauds Nickelback’s $50,000 contribution to BC Children’s Hospital, inspired by Andrew Putt’s band, Pardon My Striptease, which released a song called Pray (For LJ) in honour of Putt’s one-year-old daughter Lilee-Jean Putt, who was diagnosed two months ago with a form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma. Putt’s band dedicated all proceeds from
Helping schools around the world, from your living room
A new initiative by the Canadian International Learning Foundation has set out to overcome what Canadians say is the single biggest barrier to becoming a volunteer: lack of time. “Change the world in five hours a week” is the mantra of the Educator Volunteer Network, which matches up skilled Canadians with schools in developing and
Lessons learned: School sports are more than just a game
Education has come a long way from reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. The three Rs have been broadened to encompass the three As – academics, arts and athletics. The first provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to be productive citizens, the second unleashes their creativity to ensure society’s cultural vitality, and the third
Problem solved: Thunderbird Elementary principal overwhelmed by response
Thunderbird elementary school principal Henry Peters was overwhelmed by the response to an appeal Monday for help for his inner-city school where many children come to class hungry. “The response has been fantastic,” said Peters, who Tuesday was trying to return phone calls and reply to emails offering assistance. Thunderbird, in East Vancouver, was featured
Update: Lord Roberts gets $16,000 towards technology to help unlock learning in autistic kids
UPDATE: Since this story was published, Lord Roberts has been inundated with donations. We’re told 42 iPads have been purchased or donated, with 12 of those going to special needs classes. If you have plans to donate iPads or money, please consider other schools in need at http://www.vansunkidsfund.ca Lord Roberts was a British military commander of
Corporate commitment to charities helps students eat healthy breakfast
The lineup of children at Grandview elementary school began early Tuesday morning, as the first whiff of grilled cheese drifted through the gymnasium. It was a day like any other, with several dozen students from kindergarten to Grade 7 watching hungrily as cafeteria worker Ignazia (Nancy) Boucher flipped sandwiches on the grill and set out
Text SUNKIDS to 20222 to help feed hungry kids
Your $5 could feed a hungry kid breakfast for a week. Now imagine you can double that without spending another dime – your $5 donation will stretch to feed that child for two weeks. Starting today, with the launch of our Adopt-a-School text-to-donate program, text SUNKIDS to 20222 to donate $5. The Vancouver Sun Children’s
Inner-city kids come to school tired, hungry: teacher tells forum
A panel discussion was held Monday evening at the Vancouver Public Library to discuss poverty and inner-city students. This was organized by Carrie Gelson and her colleagues at Seymour elementary in the weeks after The Sun published her plea for public support for her school. My colleague Medha staffed the event and her story can
Sustainable funding, holistic approach critical at inner-city schools: community panel
Vancouver schoolteacher Carrie Gelson touched a chord and sparked a conversation with her September letter to Vancouver residents that drew attention to the plight of inner-city schools. That conversation continued at Vancouver Public Library Monday evening, where a panel of teachers, health and community workers discussed the challenges of educating children in poorer neighbourhoods. Janey
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