In January 2021, RCMP officer Geoffrey McKay found himself in Coral Harbour, Nunavut helping the RCMP.
Desperate for a taste of home, McKay asked his wife to send him a box of treats.
When he received the care package from his wife, McKay was overjoyed. Who wouldn’t be?
This year in March, McKay was motivated to share the joy he felt with children in Sanirajak, Nunavut where he was stationed.
To make his wish come true, McKay asked friends to donate any items they thought children would enjoy.
What started out as a small ask grew into a a massive project with boxes of items coming in from as far away as New York City.
Before he knew it, McKay was delivering 250 boxes to a Sanirajak school.
Cole Garrity, student at Outreach High School in St. Albert, is now looking to do the same for the community this year.
Outreach High School’s elementary school curriculum involves learning about northern communities. As part of a credit towards his degree, Garrity decided to put together a fundraiser for children in Sanirajak for Christmas.
To raise money for Garrity’s fundraiser, the school held bake sales and other fundraising events.
The school also gave presentations at other schools in St. Albert. One good-spirited school even donated a whopping 200 boxes!
To Garrity, who was only expecting 20 boxes at most, was blown away by the St. Albert community’s response.
Around 300 boxes are expected to arrive at Sanirajak’s community of 900 people by Christmas.
In addition to gifts from Garrity’s fundraiser, a second shipment will arrive in January and will include coats and other winter gear.
