Students at Pitt River middle school believe in the power of a toonie to make a difference to people a half a world away and they want Port Coquitlam residents to share their dream.
Beginning Monday, the students will be canvassing the community in the hopes of raising more than $5,000 for the Red Cross to be used for supplies for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
"We just want to give them a little hope," said Caleb Mills, a Grade 7 student.
"I feel bad for those people who lost family members," said Divya Muniyappan, a Grade 7 student.
"We have a lot and they probably had a lot and they lost it," said Tiana Brennan, a Grade 6 student.
Toonie campaign
Their class got the idea for the Toonies for Typhoon campaign after hearing about the devastating disaster and talking with teacher Kiren Chand about social responsibility.
Thinking big, the students determined if they could get every citizen in the city to donate a toonie, which the federal and provincial governments will match, they can help the people of of the Philippines through difficult times.
The disaster was brought close to home when they learned that four of their classmates had family in the Philippines (all are safe).
To help PoCo residents support the cause, the students have placed empty water jugs in several stores. They'll pick the jugs up at the end of the week and deliver the funds to the Red Cross.
List of participating outlets
The following is a list of Toonies for Typhoon donation drop-off locations in PoCo:
Bank of Montreal, 102-2564 Shaughnessy St.;
Poco Inn and Suites, 1545 Lougheed Hwy.;
Vancity Savings, Shaughnessy Station, 7100-2850 Shaughnessy St.;
Canadian Tire, 2125 Hawkins St.;
Super Valu, 2535 Shaughnessy St.
CIBC, Fremont Village, 890 Village Dr.;
Me and Ed's Pizza, 2232 McAllister St.;
PoCo Bowl, 2263 McAllister St.;
Save-On Foods, 2385 Ottawa St.;
Pharmasave, 3295 Coast Meridian Rd. and 2627 Shaughnessy St.;
Florens Haircuts, 2551 Shaughnessy St.;
Europe Bakery, 2552 Shaughnessy St.;
Shoppers Drug Mart, Shaughnessy Station, 2850 Shaughnessy St. and Fremont Village, 876 Village Dr.;
Matteo's Gelato, 2615 Mary Hill Rd.;
Cooper's Foods, 1430 Prairie Ave.
Also, there will be a jug at Real Canadian Superstore in Coquitlam's Westwood Mall, 3000 Lougheed Hwy.
