Today is the first day of summer which also serves as a reminder that the end of school is near. Recently, our school celebrated the end of the year with a Doggie Day fundraising BBQ lunch sponsored by Life Choices Foods. The Toronto based natural foods company selected only a few schools in the GTA, such as Plum Tree Park Public School, to participate in this incredible opportunity to raise funds for a charity of the school's choice. Little did I know that Life Choices would absorb all the costs. I was excited enough over the fact that the students would have a chance to try natural hotdogs that are nitrite free, peanut and gluten free, contain no fillers or by-products, and made with prime cuts of 100% Canadian beef. And not only do they use beef that is vegetable grain fed and raised using sustainable agriculture and without antibiotics, Life Choices hotdogs are just downright tasty.

With our most recent Free the Children project underway, we decided to donate any funds raised to our Adopt a Village Brick by Brick campaign which will help build a school in a Third World country. Our student leadership groups, which include Me to We, Go Local and Student Council, took on the task of organizing the hotdog distribution and had an opportunity to enjoy a hotdog with the Life Choices staff as well as a speaker from Free the Children to learn more about the campaign. We sat down with Amber Schuler to discuss the countries in greatest need and looked at possible fundraising ideas for the coming year that will also provide awareness about issues affecting students in these countries. Our school has committed to raising $8,500 which is quite an undertaking. This is why I am happy to report that we sold enough hotdogs at $2 each to raise $828! 

It is with much gratitude that I would like to thank Matthew Von Teichman, President of Life Choices Natural Foods, and his wonderful staff for helping to run a smooth hotdog lunch and for ultimately helping us to bring education to children who would otherwise go without. The students absolutely loved the taste and some parents were even so kind as to donate a little extra. Our Doggie Day was a wonderful success!