It’s not every kid who raises $1000 for a local food bank.
In one day.
Mom Lindsay Fisher, and her children Jackson Perri, nine, and Avarie Perri, seven, did just that for the Innisfil Food Bank last week.
Avarie and her mom were watching YouTube videos on Thursday evening, on the Humankind channel.
“One of the videos was about volunteers trying to help homeless people. They set up handwashing stations for the homeless, I think it was in New York,” said Fisher. “That got us into a conversation about being grateful.”
They talked about everything that they had – a roof over their heads, food to eat – and about all of the people who go without. “It was a learning opportunity,” Fisher said, and led to a decision to help others in need in their own community.
The very next day, Fisher contacted the Innisfil Food Bank, and learned that what was needed most of all during the COVID-19 crisis was cash to purchase food for food bank clients.
The kids set a target of $1,000, “and we started making phone calls,” she said.
That was Friday morning. Practicing social distancing, and using FaceTime, the kids contacted family and friends, and quickly raised $500.
Fisher, who is an Educational Assistant at Lake Simcoe Public School in Innisfil, still closed by Emergency order, contacted her colleagues, while Avarie and Jackson spoke to their own teachers.
“They all contributed,” Fisher said.
She had thought the kids’ target of $1,000 was unrealistic, but thanks to everyone’s generosity, “they were able to reach the thousand dollars by about 9 o’clock at night on Friday.”
Avarie and Jackson presented the money on Monday, and were given a tour of the food bank, which operates out of the Innisfil Community Church on Innisfil Beach Road in Alcona.
“What kids can say they gave $1,000 to a food bank?” said Pastor Howard Courtney, who received the donation. “Congratulations and a big thank you from the Innisfil Food Bank!”
