Donations continue to come in for the people of Nepal, left trying to rebuild after two devastating earthquakes ravaged the country.
The Canadian Red Cross says Atlantic Canadians have been giving generously, particularly in schools.
On Thursday afternoon, a special presentation took place at Crichton Park Elementary School in Dartmouth.
The Grade 1 class at Crichton Park Elementary has two students from Nepal. Sajal Aryal moved to Dartmouth from Nepal just three months ago, while Pratyush Dabadi has been in Canada for three years, but still has family living in Nepal.
“They showed buildings were knocked down, people were under gravel, and some people were under the ground for a day or two,” said Pratyush.
When the Grade 1 students learned the earthquakes in Nepal affected their classmates’ families, they organized a bake sale to help raise money.
“People at our school would buy many of the things that we baked in the bake sale” said Grade 1 student Ryan Aucoin.
The rest of the school pitched in, and Crichton Park Elementary raised a total of $1,300.
“I really liked it and we raised $320,” said Grade 1 student Makenna Stevens-Loppie.
On Thursday, the class had a visit from the Canadian Red Cross, to congratulate the students on their efforts, and explain how Canadians are lending a hand.
“Atlantic Canada has seen a huge response from the communities, a huge response from government, and especially from the schools itself,” said Samantha Warshick of the Canadian Red Cross.
Then Pratyush and Sajal made a special presentation, thanking their classmates.
“It makes me happy that they help Nepal,” said Pratyush.
So far, $17million has been raised across Canada, and the federal government has pledged to match any donations received until May 25. That means the $1,300 dollars raised by Crichton Park Elementary will be doubled.
Their teacher says it’s not just about the money.
“I mean they know Sajal, they know Pratyush, they know they have family, grandparents without homes, without water, and it was a chance for them to feel good and give back to their own community through the boys from Nepal,” said Debbie Thompson, the Grade 1 teacher at Crichton Park.
Crichton Park is the second Halifax-area elementary school to make a donation to the Red Cross in just over a week. Last Wednesday, students at Fairview Heights Elementary raised more than $1,200 for disaster relief in Nepal.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Jacqueline Foster