Zoe’s Toy Emporium for Kids

Zoe (pictured below) learned about the importance of nutrition and food security through Canadian Feed The Children’s (CFTC) partnership with her community – and this past winter she decided to give back and help other children in communities in Africa who are working towards the same goal.

Zoe holding the gifts she purchase through BestGiftEver.ca

Zoe is from Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation – a community located on the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula – and one that CFTC has been partnering with to improve local food security since 2013.

“A large number of our families in the community are living below the poverty line and struggle to make ends meet,” Debbie Chegahno, the principal at Cape Croker Elementary School told us. “There are still a large number of children who do not bring lunches on a regular basis or do not bring healthy food. This is a direct result of the low income earnings in the community, the high price of food, and the lack of transportation.”

Students at Zoe’s school, along with the broader community, have benefited from the partnership with CFTC through the development of a culturally meaningful, holistic food security program. The program includes school breakfast and lunch, in-class nutrition education, family outreach, inter-generational activities with community elders, a school garden and a new Fresh for Less program providing the community with affordable healthy food. In all of these activities, a key focus is on empowering youth to make changes in their own lives and communities by giving them the support and tools to do so.

The students at Cape Croker Elementary School have shown incredible leadership skills and have quickly become nutrition advocates for their own community. After seeing the positive change on her peers and in her community, Zoe decided this past winter to connect with children in different communities in Africa by fundraising for their food security programs through CFTC.

At the school’s recent Nutrition Project Fundraising Bazaar, Zoe rented a vendor’s table and set up “Zoe’s Toy Emporium” where she sold used toys and homemade Christmas crafts and raised $47. She excitedly donated it through CFTC’s Best.Gift.Ever gift catalogue, purchasing livestock and other much needed supplies for children all over the world. Zoe was surprised to learn that three chickens can produce more than 1,000 eggs for one family – and upon realizing the impact she could have on other children’s lives said: “I guess I better start fundraising more!”

CFTC is grateful to Zoe for her generosity, and for being a heartwarming reminder of the sustainable, global change you support when you make a difference in children’s lives.