The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is not just a story, but a way of thinking at ACES. We are striving to meet the needs of not only our own community, but positively contributing to the neighbours that live all around us. God loves us and has given us so much that we want to respond to this love by blessing others.
Just this past year, we have had the opportunity to donate used winter clothing to be distributed to public school children who are not properly prepared for the colder weather. We regularly make donations to the food bank at Thanksgiving and other times of the year. We have engaged in a variety of projects in the past: Operation Christmas Child, Cops for Cancer and Rice Raiser are some examples. Individual classrooms at ACES often do their own giving projects that can sometimes relate to the curriculum or individual projects that are presented by the teacher.
Last year, ACES Elementary was involved in Abbotsford’s Run for Water campaign and helped raise about $6,000 for children in Ethiopia. We are once again partnering with this organization. Run for Water includes a 5km, 10km and half-marathon run in May. All the money raised from this event goes to provide clean drinking water in Ethiopia. Students of ACES Elementary participate by running in our very own mini-Run 4 Water at school and by raising $35.00 themselves. We want students to each raise $35.00 because their money will provide clean drinking water for one child in Ethiopia for a lifetime! We want them to know, they CAN make a difference!