Guildford Park Secondary Seeks Support for Struggling Families

Surrey’s Guildford Park Secondary School, home to an astounding 84 native languages spoken by its students, is making a heartfelt appeal for community support to assist struggling families. The school has faced increasing challenges, particularly as it serves a significant population of immigrants and refugees who often require help with basic necessities.

Principal Marti Player expressed her pride in the school’s diversity, noting that her staff can communicate in 27 different languages. Despite this impressive linguistic range, many families still face barriers, especially in accessing essential resources. The high number of students from varied backgrounds means that the school frequently addresses issues beyond language, including food insecurity and clothing needs.

The situation has become more critical following the provincial government’s cancellation of its $20 million student and family affordability fund, which previously allocated around $3.1 million to Surrey schools. Player lamented the loss of this support, which had enabled the school to provide grocery store gift cards to families in need. “It was a regular occurrence for families to come in and ask for help with food,” she explained. “Now it’s gone.”

Last year, the Vancouver Sun’s Adopt-A-School campaign provided $183,080 in emergency funds to support schools, including Guildford Park. This year, Player anticipates a similar need, stating, “I think that’s a big part of what we will use The Vancouver Sun’s fund for because our families desperately need it.”

Students arriving at the school often show signs of hunger, a condition that Player and her staff regularly encounter. “Today we had a student in our medical room feeling light-headed. This is common,” she said. “Our first aid checks often include the question, ‘Have you eaten today?’ When the answer is ‘No,’ we have to get them food and give them time to feel better.”

Adopt-A-School also collaborates with local firefighters to provide breakfast for approximately 100 children every day. Player highlighted the difficult living conditions many families face, often having multiple children in cramped spaces, which exacerbates their food insecurity. The rising cost of living has made the loss of the affordability fund even more challenging for these families.

To further assist students, Guildford Park aims to secure $5,000 from Adopt-A-School to provide food and winter clothing. Many students, particularly those new to Canada from warmer climates, require appropriate winter gear to cope with the harsh conditions. “The clothing piece is important because we spend a lot on coats and shoes,” Player explained.

One Grade 12 student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her personal journey of healing through the support of Adopt-A-School. After arriving in Canada from Pakistan in 2020, she struggled with her identity, feeling isolated due to her background. Participating in the Poetry Club helped her find her voice. “I presented my poem at a Vancouver poetry festival, which was really healing for me,” she said, reflecting on her experiences of belonging and displacement.

The poem she wrote speaks to her complex identity and the sense of home she grapples with. “I carry bits of Afghanistan in my heart,” she writes, capturing the emotional weight of her heritage and the new life she is building in Canada.

Donations to Adopt-A-School are directed entirely toward supporting schools without any administrative fees. Contributions can be made online at www.vansunkidsfund.ca or by calling 604-813-8673 for credit card donations.

As the Guildford Park community rallies together to support its most vulnerable members, the call for assistance highlights the profound impact that local initiatives can have in addressing immediate needs.