Yale Secondary Seeks $20,000 After Loss of Key Funding

The decision by the British Columbia (B.C.) government to eliminate its $20 million student and family affordability fund has left Yale Secondary School in Abbotsford struggling to support impoverished students. This funding, initially established in 2022, played a crucial role in providing essential supplies, food, and clothing to families in need.

Hayley Davey, a youth and family worker at Yale Secondary, expressed her disbelief over the funding cut, stating, “I just don’t understand why they have cut funding when the needs are way higher than they’ve ever been.” The program had not only helped families cover school supplies and class trips but also addressed food insecurity by sending meals home with students during the week and weekends.

Davey recalled a particularly challenging case where she assisted a student caring for a sick father and a younger sister. “Mom’s not in the picture,” she explained. Without money for food or basic necessities, the student was in dire need. Davey took the student to a local store to purchase essentials, including clothes and groceries.

The abrupt loss of funding became evident to Davey when she returned to school in September. “It’s a huge loss. I only found out the first day,” she noted, emphasizing the impact this would have on her ability to support students. With no financial means to help, she has resorted to using her own money to meet the urgent needs of her students. “They come in with nothing,” she added, explaining that she has spent hundreds of dollars in just over a week into the new school year.

The absence of the affordability fund is expected to affect around 140 students. In response to immediate hunger, Davey has utilized the provincial government’s feeding futures program to provide breakfast sandwiches and yogurt parfaits. However, strict regulations limit her ability to offer a wider range of food, leaving her to supplement with items from her own home.

In light of these challenges, Yale Secondary School is urgently requesting $20,000 from the Adopt-A-School (AAS) program, which has historically provided financial assistance to schools throughout the province. Davey stressed the importance of this funding, saying, “Any hungry kid should be fed. We need money for food, clothes, and some school supplies.”

Since its inception in 2011, the AAS has distributed $15.1 million to schools across British Columbia, aided by donations from readers of the Vancouver Sun. Importantly, 100% of these donations go directly to schools, ensuring that every dollar is used to support students in need.

For those wishing to contribute, donations can be made online at vansunkidsfund.ca or by calling 604-813-8673 to donate via credit card. As the school year progresses, the urgency for support remains high, as educators like Davey continue to face increasing challenges in meeting the basic needs of their students.