Tara Jeffrey
The more Lilly Nead heard about the war in Ukraine, the more compelled she felt to act.
“It was really impacting me,” said the Grade 7 student at St. Joseph Catholic School in Corunna, which last month welcomed a new student from the Ukraine.
“These families who came here to start a new life, and the people still there — I felt like I had to do something.”
So Nead approached teacher Daniel Cicchelli and principal Colleen Cogghe about hosting a fundraiser to benefit those impacted by the war in Ukraine. They decided on a pizza day.
Nead reached out to Sissios Pizza in Corunna and recruited her parents to provide jumbo freezies, to be sold for $2. Most importantly, she got people talking.
“She took this all on herself,” Cicchelli said. “The students are getting involved and wanting to support. I actually heard one say, ‘I want to buy five slices to help more people.’”
Students and staff were encouraged to wear yellow and blue — the colours of the Ukrainian flag — for the fundraiser, which brought in 71 pizzas and dozens of freezies.
In total, the school raised $1,200 to support resettlement efforts at Sarnia’s St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.
“We’ve started some really important conversations,” said Cogghe. “It’s been a great opportunity for Lilly to show that you can make an impact, beyond the walls of the school.”