The B.C. government’s decision to abandon its $20-million student and family affordability fund is having a devastating effect on impoverished students who no longer can expect help from the program when they’re without food at home or in need of other necessities.
Since 2011, the AAS has sent $15.1 million to schools across the province to help impoverished students thanks to generous donations from Vancouver Sun readers.
“I just don’t understand why they have cut funding when the needs are way higher than they’ve ever been,” said Hayley Davey, a youth and family worker at Yale Secondary School in Abbotsford.
The fund was set up in 2022 to help families unable to pay for school supplies or class trips. But many schools faced with problems of how to help students obviously in need also used the fund to send home food during the week, or at weekends, or provide students with clothes.
Davey said one student she was able to help through the fund was in a dire state — caring for a sick father at home and a younger sister — “mom’s not in the picture.” But there was no money in the house for food and the student needed necessities such as clothes, socks, underwear, laundry soap and shampoo.
”I was able to take her to Walmart and get her what she needed. She also needed stuff to make meals for them — ground beef, chicken and vegetables,” she said.
Davey said it was a shock when she arrived at school in September to find the fund wasn’t available: “It’s a huge loss. I only found out the first day.”
Her job is to support students who are struggling at school and in life, but now lacks the means to help them financially.
“I have to be really mindful now how I am to support these kids because I can’t say, ‘Don’t worry that’s a stress I can take away’ and then not be able to do it.”
But she has been trying anyway — using her own money.
School had been back just over a week, and she had already spent hundreds of dollars on students whose condition she couldn’t ignore.
“They come in with nothing,” she said.
Davey has also been dipping into her closet to find clothes and shoes to bring to school.
She said the loss of the fund will affect about 140 students.
With students coming to school hungry, she can use the provincial government’s feeding futures program to give them a breakfast sandwich in the morning, and a parfait made from yogurt, granola and fruit for lunch.
“But the rules for feeding futures are very strict. I can’t buy granola bars because it’s not a breakfast item. I had some squirrelled away from last year, but it’s been two weeks (since school started) and I’m down to nothing now,” Davey explained. “So I’ve been bringing stuff from home.”
Yale Secondary School is asking the AAS for $20,000. Davey said the money is urgently needed.
“We have some kids dropping by my room and I have to say, ‘I’m sorry I don’t have any food right now. Any hungry kid should be fed. We need money for food, clothes and some school supplies. I’ve given away shoes and clothes and sweaters because we had an earthquake drill and some kids didn’t have any sweaters or coats.”
Since 2011, the AAS has sent $15.1 million to schools across the province to help impoverished students thanks to generous donations from Vancouver Sun readers. No administration fees are deducted from donations made to the AAS. One-hundred per cent of donations will be sent to schools.
How to donate
1. ONLINE: Donate with a credit card at vansunkidsfund.ca
2. PHONE: To pay by credit card, call 604-813-8673.
By Gerry Bellett (gbellett@gmail.com)
