C Bay pair help kids get back to school

CONSTANCE BAY – Two long-time Constance Bay community members are joining forces to help parents in need get ready for the new school year in a time of extremely fast rising costs.

Constance Bay’s Jennifer Organ Maranta, a Newfoundlander by birth, is collecting food, supplies and back to school items she will distribute to families in need as the new school year gets underway.

“We all know about the cost of food, supplies for parents of kids going back to school,” Maranta released in a statement Aug. 27. “For the next two weeks I’m doing a food drive and back to school supplies for this reason. I’m teaming up with Constance Bay Pharmacy and Tamara (Awada) with helping to spread the word and as a drop off location for the supplies.”

Maranta and Awada met with West Carleton Online at the Constance Bay Pharmacy (179 Constance Bay Rd.) to talk about the project the two say is kind of a pilot project for this year.

Maranta says giving back is just what families do.

“Growing up in rural Newfoundland, my mother was a teacher, I gave my staff away as a kid to people in need and the tradition keeps going,” she said. “We’re collecting school supplies and food mainly. With the price of everything, the middle class finds it hard. It’s extremely hard for those who aren’t in the middle class.”

Awada, who owns and operates the community-minded Constance Bay Pharmacy, says she was noticing the struggle as well.

“We think alike,” Awada said of Maranta. “I was already thinking about it, Maranta is just faster at acting than me.”

Last Thanksgiving (and several previous ones since 2016), Awada was able to organize 22 full turkey dinners for families who might have gone without.

“I was thinking I had to do something for the school year,” Awada said. “I completely share Maranta’s vision. It’s hard for young families.”

The pair hope this year’s project will become a Constance Bay tradition.

“We want this to be an annual tradition, and we want to combine back to school with the Helping Hands program,” Awada said. “School is when the struggle begins.”

Maranta also volunteers at the West Carleton Food Access Centre (WCFAC) and recommends those who would like to donate money, do so through the WCFAC (WCfoodaid@gmail.com) which has charitable status.

The pair are also working with local schools to help direct the donations anonymously. Donations of back to school supplies can be dropped off at a ‘tickle trunk’ located at the entrance of the Constance Bay Pharmacy.

Maranta, starting this weekend, will be organizing the donations in to packages for distribution.

“It’s ingrained in me,” Maranta said of why she is doing this. “Just helping people have more time with their families and not having to worry about that one thing.”

“I was born in another part of the world,” Awada, who is Lebanese, said. “But we were raised the same way. Helping hands.”