Not even a pandemic could slow down the enthusiasm towards an annual fundraising initiative at Mitchell Elementary School.

For the last 11 years, the school has been partnering with an organization called Provision of Hope in order to sponsor children to go to school in Liberia. In years past, the school has done its fundraising through a garage and bake sale called Treats and Treasures. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, that could not happen this year. Instead, this year they sent envelopes home with students.

Teacher Elaine Peters says the very first year of this partnership, they were able to raise enough money to send five kids to school. That increased to six kids the following year. By last year, their fundraising efforts had grown to a point that they could sponsor 13 children. Peters admits there was concern among staff that without their usual form of fundraising, this year would be a challenge.

"But then this year blew the socks off," says Peters.

After the last dollars were counted, they had raised $13,000, enough to sponsor 18 kids. She notes one family alone from their community offered to sponsor three kids.

"So amazing," she says.

Peters says this year they had the opportunity to connect via Zoom with one of the students in Liberia whom they have been sponsoring since grade one. Bendu is currently in grade 10 and showed the children how she cooks food over a charcoal fire and carries water on her head. Peters says the students in Mitchell are excited to be able to sponsor her all the way to graduation in two years.

"They recognize that maybe even more now because of COVID, what a privilege it is, and to be able to help someone in another country who wouldn't be able to go to school except for our help, is a great community project to get behind," shares Peters.

According to Peters, the Mitchell Elementary School is intentional about learning to care about others. She notes they recognize that as individuals we grow a sense of purpose and fulfillment in our lives when we can be part of something bigger and something that makes a difference. This partnership with Provision of Hope is not the only humanitarian work done at the school; over the years they also assist Helping Hands at Christmas and the Terry Fox Run.