The local French public school is throwing a Together with Ukraine fundraiser this weekend.
Laurie-Anne Monette, resource teacher at École Publique aux Quatre-Vents says the fundraiser is to help the Ukrainian community with the Russian invasion.
Monette, a Ukrainian national with deep roots in the Parry Sound community, says the school will be raising money for the Canadian Red Cross’ Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis Appeal.
She says the fundraiser starts with pre-activities for the students on Friday, introducing them to Ukrainian culture.
“We’re going to show them the dances so they’re gonna learn how to dance. We have flowers where we will show them how to make sunflowers, we’re showing them how to draw the Ukrainian Flag so they will be able to make little paintings,” she says.
Monette says the pre-activities, taking place in the school’s gymnasium, will be open to all students from JK up to Grade 9.
The following day, she says school staff will set up a tent near the school, in the Parry Sound Mall parking lot, from 10 AM to 3 PM for in-person donations. “We will have our mascot there, Eva, and he’ll be there, present to take on the little ones who may be there, to entertain them a little bit,” she adds.
Monette says people can donate online directly to the Red Cross or in person at the tent where they will receive official receipts of their donation to the cross.
You can support the “Together with Ukraine” initiative by contributing funds online any time or in person on April 2nd in the shopping center parking lot located at 70 Joseph Street in Parry Sound.