As the season of Halloween draws near, people find themselves surrounded with ghosts, bats and witches abound, offering individuals a welcome “scare” to get the festive spirit going. Yet, for approximately 8.3% of households across Canada, everyday is a whirling nightmare of hunger, hopelessness and the imminent threat of starvation. Over four million Canadians experience food insecurity with one out of every eight people struggling to place food on their tables. Yet, rather than succumbing to apathy and ignorance, the student leaders of St. Augustine C.H.S. chose to make this “spooky” Halloween into one of solidarity. Hosting an initiative known as the “We Scare Hunger” food drive, the school’s social justice committee, Matt 25, encouraged the student body to fight back against this ongoing issue, all the while motivating them to “be the change” within their school community. The results? Collectively, these young changemakers contributed over 400 cans to this positive cause, allowing fellow members of the community to share in the festivities, spirit, and joy that comes with giving. With a little bit of inspiration and a lot of canned foods, every student was able to step up to improve the lives of their fellow Canadians, one step at a time. “This food drive was an amazing way to raise awareness on the food insecurities plague our peers,” noted Venice Co, a member of Matt 25. “It helped me to realize that we can, indeed, enact positive change in society, using small actions that have major impacts on others.”
By: Zinnia Chung
Photographer: Zinnia Chung
11/08/2018
Titan Times 