Lindsay Place students to feed the homeless

Like many of her peers, Lindsay Place High School Grade 11 student Ayana Blades will not be having a late and lazy Christmas Day morning slowly rising from her bed to leisurely open up her presents. Instead, she is expected at the Old Brewery Mission downtown to serve lunch to the homeless. "Just to see the looks on peoples' faces, when they see the food, when you go and give them their hats, they're very happy," said Blades, referring to winter clothes the students donate as well.

Blades, who is taking part in the activity for the second time this year, said the experience has opened up her eyes to how fortunate she and her classmates are. "I'm very appreciative of what I have," she said.

The campaign is the brainchild of John Kesson, who teaches English to Grade 8-11 students at LPHS. "The students get absolutely nothing for this," Kesson said, adding it is a completely voluntary exercise which he engages the children in to give them a better sense of community service. Course credits or any other incentive beyond personal satisfaction are not part of the equation.

As in previous years, Kesson is relying on West Islanders' generosity to help them out. He and his students will be bagging groceries at Maxi in Dorval on Friday, Dec. 11 from 12-5 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. "They've been a big supporter," Kesson said of the store, adding the full meals of turkey, vegetables and cranberry sauce for everyone at the brewery mission can cost between $4,000-$5,000.

It is not just a one-off event for these students, who also serve dinner once a month at the mission to the homeless, Kesson explained.

The brewery's director-general Matthew Pearce, who joined the organization a year and a half ago, said LPHS students' commitment to help out was impressive. "We're very, very appreciative of the students at Lindsay Place High School and the faculty that they make this happen every year," he said. "It is a tremendous gesture of generosity, demonstrative of a fabulous school spirit and a remarkable testament to the capacity of young people to put their time toward something important," he added.

Pearce said it also provides an opportunity for students to interact with homeless people and come to realize that negative stereotypes that exist about them are unfounded. "And they do it in a safe environment," he said.

The Maxi in Dorval is located at 310, Dorval Avenue.