Sahara Spa in Moose Jaw is taking on one local fundraiser or collection per month as part of an initiative entitled Giving Back is Beautiful. They are currently seeking donations of school supplies for local children in need, including backpacks, shoes, granola bars, juice boxes, and writing utensils.
“Anything you think you’d send your kid to school with would be great,” said Teralyn Ross, spa coordinator.
She is delighted with the number of donations that have come in so far, and the Sahara Spa staff themselves are also planning on a shopping spree to contribute to the collection.
Currently in her third year of the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education (SUNTEP) program at the University of Regina, Ross has seen firsthand how hard it can be for children unable to afford the little things. While working for the Moose Jaw park program one summer, she was struck by how devastated one child was after accidentally breaking his water bottle, as it was the only one he had and he had no money to get a new one.
“Just seeing his face — he was crying and I felt terrible,” Ross recalled. “Lots of people, if that were to happen to them they’d just get a new one — it’s not a big deal. That was tough. That’s kind of what I think of every time I’m getting school supplies ready for the kids.”
While they’re still in the process of reaching out to various schools in town and waiting to see who needs assistance, one thing they know for certain is that the need is there.
“Especially in times like these,” Ross added. “It’s not always in your face that kids don’t have these things. Lots of times teachers will be covering those things, or they just have to go without it. I think all kids deserve a chance to feel comfortable at school and to have everything they need.”
One option under consideration is to put backpacks together for individual children, with guidance from teachers, or perhaps donating all of the items to one Moose Jaw school. They are still open to ideas about the best way to distribute the supplies.
Future plans for Giving Back is Beautiful include collecting mitts and toques to help kids in need get through the harsh winters, as well as collecting various items for Moose Jaw Transition House.
The school supply collection officially wraps up on Friday, August 27, however the staff at Sahara Spa will gladly gather any items collected after that time and deliver them to a school in town.
