Pre-service firefighter students fill boots for the Food Cupboard

Pre-service firefighter college students are again fundraising for the faculty’s Meals Cabinet serving the Woodroffe, Pembroke and Perth campuses.

The three-day Boot Drive ends on Dec. 9. College students have been fundraising on their lunch breaks.

Cheryl E. Hardwick, a full-time teacher within the police and public security institute, mentioned the Boot Drive began in 2018, two years earlier than COVID-19 was first reported in Canada.

“Throughout COVID, we took a break – so yeah, this will likely be their third yr in whole,” Hardwick mentioned.

“It’s enjoyable to do these items and to work collectively. (The scholars are) tremendous proud to stroll round on campus and discuss to individuals, particularly in the event that they get to put on their bunker gear,” Hardwick mentioned with a smile. “To boost cash is only a good initiative altogether.”

Pre-service firefighter scholar Alex Landry, 20, of Sudbury mentioned it’s frequent for individuals, together with college students, to start out fundraising applications to help individuals, particularly through the vacation season.

“I do know for myself I reside with my associate and we’re each in faculty. So cash is tight for some components of the yr. So doing this, I really feel very empathetic in the direction of different college students (with) the identical wrestle,” Landry mentioned. “Doing this Boot Drive is necessary, individuals shouldn’t be ashamed of getting struggles, particularly with cash and meals, particularly at the present time as a result of inflation is rising very excessive.”

One other pre-service firefighter scholar, Jacob Pritchard, 21, of Montreal, mentioned the Boot Drive is for college students that don’t really feel snug with the meals they’ve.

“We have now lots of very beneficiant individuals and we’re grateful for that, very grateful to have individuals donate the best way they’re as a result of I wasn’t anticipating to get up to now,” Pritchard mentioned.

Liam Brewer, 19, of Orléans, who can also be within the pre-service firefighter program, mentioned he has completed a great deal of volunteering by teaching together with his mom for the Gloucester-Cumberland Wolverines and volunteering many hours earlier than the Boot Drive.

“We’ve already gotten a great deal of nice individuals coming in and donating cash,” Brewer mentioned. “That is my first time going round Algonquin asking for donations, however I’m hoping it goes properly.”

Hardwick mentioned the primary message for the Boot Drive is that that is an instance of what college students can do as a staff to assist others. The hearth service typically does charity and neighborhood occasions as a part of the profession and tradition, so the Boot Drive is a good way for college students to get entangled of their neighborhood.