by Sylene Argent
Sometimes working on school projects leads to more than just getting a good grade.
Recently, Matthew Ducharme, a grade ten student from St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic High School, was able to present $5000 to the Essex Area Food Bank through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative Canada.
Ducharme, and all of the other grade ten students currently taking the civics class, made a presentation about a charity of choice. Ducharme chose to learn about the Essex Area Food Bank as part of the Independent Study Unit project.
Ducharme’s project on the Essex Area Food Bank made it to the semi-final round of the project competition and was later selected as the winner, which allowed him to forward $5000 through the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative Canada to the Essex Area Food Bank.
The project, Ducharme said, had students learn about their communities and the needs within them.
When researching the Essex Area Food Bank, Ducharme was surprised to learn how many individuals and families utilize its service and the cost associated with running the organization for those who need it.
Before completing the school project about the Essex Area Food Bank, Ducharme was familiar with the service as he said his school sponsors a family through the local food distribution organization at Christmas.
Having learned about the Essex Area Food Bank, Ducharme is eager to volunteer to help out this summer.
“We are proud of Matthew. He did a fantastic job,” Gerry Belanger said, who is a long-time volunteer with the Essex Area Food Bank. “The donation is coming at a good time.”
During the summer months, the Essex Area Food Bank’s shelves tend to get a little bare as schools, closing down for the summer, are unable to host food drives. It is also a time of year when the Food Bank receives less financial donations. Most donations made to the Food Bank are forwarded during the holiday season.
Typically, the Essex Area Food Bank serves around 60 individuals each Tuesday and Thursday it is open. Each person served, on average, represents three individuals. Recently, Belanger said he noticed a slight dip in those the Food Bank is serving.
The Essex Area Food Bank operates out of the former Sun Parlour Junior Public School.