HWDSB Foundation, Islamic Center Partnership Supports Syrian Newcomers
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) Foundation and The Islamic Cultural Center of Toronto (ICCT) are partnering to support arriving Syrian students with supplies, clothing and learning materials.
Aiming to help about 500 students in HWDSB elementary and secondary schools, the effort is collecting backpacks, schools supplies, books about Hamilton and Canada, clothing, personal items and funds for learning opportunities.
To date, students and families at The Islamic Cultural Center of Toronto have donated more than $7,000 in school supplies. The HWDSB Foundation has supplied 500 backpacks, with HWDSB schools and the wider community also donating hats, mittens, socks and shoes.
“This is a wonderful example of what is possible when communities come together for a great cause,” said HWDSB Foundation Development Officer Julie Densham.
Media are invited as students and community volunteers assemble the backpacks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 16 in the cafeteria at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School.
Maggie Amin, co-ordinator of the drive at the ICCT, said that its students generously donated or raised funds for more than 6,000 stationary items over the winter break, to make up 500 sets of supplies for Syrian refugees arriving in Hamilton.
“The children have purchased all the basic stationary in addition to geometry sets, calculators, binders, dividers, notebooks, lunch-boxes and much more,” Amin said. “This massive project was intended to instil into the children the art of giving and benefiting others, called ‘Sadaqa’ in the Islamic tradition.”
About the HWDSB Foundation
The HWDSB Foundation is an arms-length charity that raises funds in the private and business communities to help HWDSB students in need and to support HWDSB schools with funding opportunities to enhance curricular programming and experiential learning opportunities. The Foundation levels the playing field so that all students can reach their full academic potential.
Media Contact
Julie Densham, Foundation Development Officer
905-572-5092, ext. 2436, [email protected]
www.hwdsbfoundation.ca
Updated on Friday, September 24, 2021.