Kids in an after-school care program received a big surprise last week when an Olds High School student brought them pizza and drinks plus board games to play.
Abbey Iversen, a Grade 12 student at Olds High School bought those gifts with $150 she received after being chosen as one of thousands of youth across Canada in RBC's #Make150count program.
Under that program, to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday next year and to look ahead to the future, the bank is distributing $150 each to youth age 16 - 25 from across the country. The idea is for those who are chosen to use that money to show kindness to other citizens and help communities prosper.
Iversen used her money to brighten up the day of kids in the Olds and District Boys and Girls Club (ODBGC) Jungle Junction after-school care program, which looks after young kids at Ecole Olds Elementary School and École Deer Meadow School.
Iversen was asked why she chose to provide pizza and drinks rather than something else.
“I don't know,” she said. “Everybody likes pizza, especially little kids, so I thought that would be a fun after-school snack. And then I thought maybe they could do with some new board games here, so I brought those in.”
She left the board games with the kids so they can use them in the future.
ODBGC director Letitia Williams was pleased to see the pizza, drinks and board games arrive. So were the kids.
“It's great,” Williams said. “When she called us we were really surprised and excited to hear that she wanted to do something for the kids, and we were excited for them to have kind of a special day, because it's just nice to give them a treat and something special for them.”
“Ohhh!” the kids said excitedly when the pizzas arrived.
When somebody does something for us (what do you say),” Williams asked the kids.
“Thank you,” several of them said.
“We have to remember to be very grateful and not greedy,” Williams added. “So if you usually get pizza that has green peppers on it and there's no pizza with green peppers, we're not going to whine and complain. We're just going to be happy with what we got.
“And same with the other special things she brought you guys. We're just going to be happy that we got something, because we don't get to get new toys and stuff very often, right?”
One child, Alex, stood up in the middle of the group and asked permission to speak to Iversen.
“Thank you for supporting us,” he said. “It's a very nice thing,” he said.
“Awww,” said Iversen and the other caregivers.
“That was very nice, Alex,” Williams said.
“I know,” he replied to some laughter.
"Everybody likes pizza, especially little kids, so I thought that would be a fun after-school snack." ABBEY IVERSEN
