Multiple boxes filled to the brim with colourful backpacks lined up the floors of Franco-Cité Catholic High School as volunteers gathered to stuff them with new school supplies earlier this week… and all for a noble cause.
Progress for Mental Health (PFMH) hosted their third edition of Project Saade, an initiative designed to fill backpacks with school supplies for underprivileged students just in time before the beginning of a new school year. PFMH once again teamed up with Providing Instruments for Excellence and the John Tavares Foundation to distribute backpacks across other parts of Ontario.
Brian Storseth, chairman and co-founder of PFMH, spoke about how much Project Saade has grown since it first began, with increased organization, volunteers, and reliance from organizations that benefit from the project.
“It really hit me at how powerful it is when you’re calling these organizations up, and how grateful they are,” he said. “[There are] eight organizations that are receiving, and they give out to another countless number of organizations.”
Christian Lapalme, superintendent of Franco-Cité and several other French-language public schools, was pleased to have the school grounds used by volunteers to facilitate the distribution: “The start of a school year is a costly one for most families, and if we can help out, that’s a great thing.”
PFMH’s Board Member and Secretary Amel Storseth is another one of the front-runners of Project Saade, which is named in honour of her brother. She shared her background of growing up in lower-income housing and the struggles that young kids face.
“The idea of giving back to other children that were kind of in my shoes is in coming full circle. That’s kind of what’s inspired me,” she reflected. “And honestly, my kids have inspired me… just showing them what it’s like to be a good, decent human being, to give to our communities and to give to people who are less fortunate than us.”
Over 1000 backpacks are distributed every year to different youth organizations in Ottawa, including the Boys and Girls Club, YouTurn Youth Support Services, and more.
Planning this type of fundraiser involves lots of preparation and communication, Storseth said. She and the mayor of Barrie, Alex Nuttall, collaborate by deciding on the quantities of backpacks and supplies needed, as well as ensuring that the types of supplies meet the standards for different age levels of students.
Nuttall expressed how getting involved with this event and representing the Barrie community every year is special to him. He also noted how not having access to school supplies can affect a student’s self-esteem in the classroom.
“As somebody who grew up in government housing without the utensils needed for school each and every year, I think this is a wonderful program, and I think there’s probably a lot more demand than people realize and need that goes unanswered.”
It’s also important to “invest in young people” early to give them confidence and support, he added, saying “that investment reaps massive dividends, not just for that individual, but for society as a whole.”
One of Project Saade’s partners this year, Meridian Credit Union, made a significant donation of $20,000. Two of Ottawa’s branch members, Andre Belanger and Spencer Pomeroy, were helping pack up backpacks that morning with the rest of the volunteers.
“We’re so pleased to be part of this,” said Belanger. He and Pomeroy emphasized the importance of how the cause reflects Meridian’s values.
“We’re a purpose driven financial institution, so we really do focus on giving back to the community,” Pomeroy said. “Helping kids get ready for school… that gives them a really strong foundation for financial competence for anything they want to do in the future.”
Amel Storseth hopes that Project Saade will help many children, whether it’s a few or a thousand, to focus on their education without worrying about lacking essentials. But, the other hopeful end goal for all of this teamwork is “putting more smiles on kids faces,” she said.
