Mrs. Savelli's Grade 6 students held a 2.5 kg flour bag drive at St. Agnes School Catholic Elementary School and collected 112 bags. Working with Mrs. Scattolon (St. Vincent De Paul Society), Mrs. Savelli thought this cause was one that demonstrates the Social Justice teaching of "How can we answer God's call to service?"
The group created posters to promote the event based on the following information: Coral Harbour is an island situated in the north waters of Hudson Bay. It has a population of 1100 residents.
The co-op prices of many food items are unaffordable for most residents as 75% of the population is unemployed. A 20-foot-long sea container filled with essential food items (one of the most important being flour) will take 2-3 months to arrive depending on the weather and the ice.
Flour is used to make Bannock, the traditional bread of the Inuktitut. Coral Harbour receives only one shipment a year and has no storage space so the dry goods stay in the container until needed. The community relies on fishing and hunting for Arctic Char, whales, Arctic Hare and Caribou. In late October, if you are visiting Coral Harbour, you will find families anxiously gathering at St. Joseph's church doors despite the cold to see the food items that have been donated as they echo "qujannamiik" (thank you).
