Families Helping Families
As the Chairs of the CPA Outreach Committee, we are grateful to have witnessed the incredible power of community and the spirit of generosity that is inherent here at Crescent.
The CPA had always worked on outreach initiatives but early in the COVID pandemic, we saw that the challenges faced by underserved communities across our city had become even more magnified. This new context was the catalyst for the formation of the Outreach Committee, extending the reach of CPA programs and harnessing the power of a community that recognizes the need and value of charitable giving.
Today, the CPA Outreach Committee runs three programs throughout the school year focused on essential item drives and fundraising, plus ensures that unsold items from the annual Garage Sale are donated to charitable causes.
We have recently gone through a process to define our mission and guiding principles in order to focus our efforts even more as families in the GTA increasingly struggle to afford daily necessities. Our mission statement reads “The CPA Outreach Committee exists to foster a supportive and engaged community by initiating programs that connect Crescent families with families in need across our city. We strive to create meaningful partnerships that lead to tangible results and that model Crescent's core values.”
Our programs aim to offer simple ways for our parent community to give back, thereby maximizing our collective impact. Participation in our programs at any level makes a difference. For example, one winter coat donation per student quickly adds up to 800 people in need having proper winter attire. This community-wide effort is instrumental to the success of our initiatives, and is demonstrated by our full volunteer sign-up sheets, convoys of cars packed with essential items for donation, and an annual fundraiser that continually exceeds expectations.
While the CPA initiatives strengthen the community beyond the Crescent campus, our events also serve to nurture ties within our school community. One unique aspect of our programs, and arguably one of the most enjoyable, is that our parent volunteers get to work alongside student volunteers from every division. Student volunteers bring endless enthusiasm and fun to our events, and it really is a joy to be able to connect the parent and student communities with a shared purpose. It is particularly rewarding to know that our initiatives have provoked meaningful conversations amongst students resulting in increased empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by equity-deserving groups in our city. We are continually inspired by the high level of student engagement.
As we approach the winter holiday break, a time for showing love and appreciation, we want to thank you wholeheartedly for contributing to the success of CPA Outreach programs. Whether it was volunteering, donating to the essential items drives, or contributing to our annual fundraising program, we know how busy the days and weeks can be, and greatly value the time and effort our Crescent families dedicate to support families in need.
By leveraging the power of our community and its spirit of kindness and compassion, we are able to provide meaningful support to people in need across our city.
