From left, Chelesey Van Hemmen, Mary Jane McCormick, Mrs Miraie, Emma Hingston, Mrs Darlington Smith, Mrs Boyd, at the ‘Blown Away' popcorn sale October 24.

Raina Watson
Co-op Student

"Happiness is not made by what we own. It is what we share." ~ Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS) has been holding a fundraiser this October to support the Red Cross International Disaster Relief Fund, to assist those who have suffered from several significant natural disasters that have taken place just this year.

Teachers Nancie Darlington Smith and Bethany Boyd worked together on the project, setting up a variety of fundraising options, including a donation website linked with the Red Cross International Relief Fund where the community can also contribute, a bake sale that took place on October 18, a 'Blown Away' popcorn sale October 24, and every home room class was given an envelope where students could donate money, multiples of five dollars from each class buying a ‘Brick of Hope’ for the front display case at the school.

The display is marked with depths of precipitation that fell in various regions around the world with Hurricane Harvey topping the group at 163cm in Texas. Each sale was very successful including the donations from each class room, and so far the amount raised from the sales and donations tops $1,000.

To raise awareness and promote the fundraiser Mrs Darlington Smith's Grade 9 geography class researched the wide variety of disasters that have shocked our world this year, learning more about how natural disasters affect society, environment, economy, and politics.

Each individual picked a country and designed a poster. They put them up around the school to bring awareness to the sheer amount of damage caused to some regions, such as Antigua and Barbuda which suffered through five different storms, causing 95 percent of their structures to be damaged.

Anyone wishing to donate to the SDSS Royals International Disaster Relief Fund can do so at https://secure.redcross.ca/registrant/donate.aspx?eventid=230243&langpref=en-CA.

(L-R) Emma Hingston, Mrs Darlington Smith, Mrs Boyd, happy with the turnout of their 'Blown Away' popcorn sale October 24.

Some of the tasty Rice Krispie treats and other goodies sold at the bake sale October 18.

Just one of the many posters made by students in Mrs Darlington Smith's Grade 9 geography class.

Co-op and geography teacher Nancie Darlington Smith serving up some freshly popped popcorn October 24.

Everyone enjoying the tasty treats at the bake sale organized by Mrs Darlington Smith and Mrs Boyd October 18.