OACS News Service

Orangeville Christian School principal Paul Marcus presents a donation of $5,500 for Haiti relief efforts to World Vision employee Anita Bergsma.
Schools get involved in fundraising for Haiti
OCS and Rhema organize events to benefit relief efforts
Monday February 1, 2010 -- Jennifer Higgs
Orangeville Christian School (OCS) and Rhema Christian School in Peterborough recently organized events to engage their communities in fundraising for Haiti earthquake relief efforts.

OCS principal and chief operating officer Paul Marcus says the idea to host a Haiti relief fundraising event arose during a staff social evening.

“We knew as a Christian school we should have some response to it,” says Marcus, of the earthquake that hit Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince Jan. 12, causing massive devastation.

On Saturday, Jan. 23 OCS staff members hosted a community pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m.

The elementary school estimates more than 200 people attended and 400 pancakes served, raising a total of $5,500.

“The turnout far exceeded any of the staff’s expectations,” says Marcus, noting at one point organizers had to set up more chairs.

“The generosity of the community as a whole is touching.”

OCS is thankful to Tim Hortons for supplying coffee, as well as grocery stores Sobeys, No Frills, Price Chopper and Metro for donating the juice, pancake mix and maple syrup.

The school delivered the cheque to World Vision headquarters in Brampton last week. World Vision is planning to visit the school and talk with students about Haiti relief efforts.

The Good Neighbour committee at Rhema organized a spaghetti lunch Thursday, Jan. 21. Students were asked to contribute $3 for the meal, and in a few hours $1,000 was raised.

Peter Bouzinelos from The Pizza Factory donated and prepared the food, and parents helped in the kitchen.

Rhema also organized a floor hockey tournament, with funds to be distributed to Seeds of Hope, which works to educate, feed, clothe and house the people of Grande Goave, Haiti.

Rhema principal Joel Slofstra says students were very eager to help the people of Haiti and the community responded very well to the fundraising opportunities.

“We partake in Good Neighbour type activities throughout the year to demonstrate God's love through us in our community and this is a great way for us to show that His love can reach all of His children,” says Slofstra.

Click here to read about OCS in the Orangeville Banner.

Related Story:
Ottawa Christian School students sell muffins to raise funds for Haitian relief effort

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