On Nov. 28, a global movement by the name of ‘GivingTuesday’ sought to reimagine a world based on the principles of radical generosity and a shared sense of humanity. Participating individuals and organizations dedicate their time to positively transform their communities and the world.
Now in it’s third year of participation, Sask. Polytech has utilized the day to help promote the school’s Student Emergency Fund.
“The Student Emergency Fund supports students when they need it the most and provides them financial stability during a difficult time or an unforeseen circumstance,” explained Sarah Fedirko, the school’s director of alumni and donor engagement.
“It ensures that the students can meet their own basic needs, and they can continue and focus on their academics and studying instead of worrying about how they might be able to afford food, or other things we would constitute as an emergency item.”
The ongoing emergency fund is offered to students at Sask. Polytech on a case-by-case basis, and it’s used for the growing cost of necessities such as food and transportation to and from classes. By offering this support, students can remain focused on their studies as they prepare to enter the workforce.
The emergency fund program is utilized over all of Sask. Polytech’s four campuses including Moose Jaw.
“This fund is one of our most accessed funds, unfortunately. We deplete this fund very quickly when we have donations given to it. That’s really the primary reason for us fundraising and highlighting the need around this during GivingTuesday,” Fedirko said.
“Sask. Polytech is a charitable organization. So, generally speaking, charities would utilize this day as an opportunity to promote to their audiences giving back and encouraging them to do so. Sask. Polytech does the same thing,” she said.
Due to the consistent level of need by students throughout the school year, the emergency funding account tends to deplete quickly. “The funds that we have in the account right now will definitely be depleted within the next month or so, so we’re working to wrap that up,” Fedirko explained.
“We decided to promote and focus on it for Nov. 28 just because it’s such an important need for us right now, and we do expect an increase in requests for funding from this, especially given the holiday season coming up,” she said. “If people want to give any time of the year they can – we are just highlighting it right now.”
This year has seen funding requests increase by over 33 per cent, and to date, over 320 students have benefited from the fund’s critical financial support.
To access the fund, a student would approach an academic counsellor on campus. The counsellor then books an appointment with them which is either in-person or virtual.
Here, the student and counsellor partake in a one-on-one conversation to assess the student’s needs, review their circumstances, discuss alternative resources, and the outcome gives deserving students access to the fund.
Students at Sask. Polytech in Moose Jaw can email [email protected] or call 306-691-8311.
“Every small donation adds up to have a really big impact. We look to see our alumni donors and community members come together on this and help our students,” concluded Fedirko.
To make a donation, visit alumni.saskpolytech.ca/giving-day.
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