Advertiser Foundation helps Cambrai Primary School hand out 20 hampers to ease drought struggle

They might be just a 1.5 hour drive from Adelaide, but these generous youngsters have learned just how remote that can feel when hard times hit.

Armed with essential kitchen supplies, these Cambrai Primary School students are aiming to make a difference to their drought-stricken community.

Like many others, the community is struggling through one of its worst droughts in history with residents relying on carting household water from the town’s standpipe.

To help ease further burdens, the school’s 30 students will create 20 food hampers for families and residents who need it most, thanks to a $2000 Advertiser Foundation grant.

Principal Leila Kasprzak said, until recently, the school regularly sent home hampers to nine families each week, but reduced funding meant it wasn’t able to continue.

Ms Kasprzak said thanks to the funding they would resume the service, while also instilling a sense of community among the children.

Cambrai primary school students Indie Ryan, Felicity Fiebig, Preston Wills, Samuel Nuske, Principal Leila Kasprzak and Darren Fiebig with a food hamper. The school received an Advertiser Foundation Drought Grant to operate a community pantry to create and buy hampers to support 15 families during term. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Cambrai primary school students Indie Ryan, Felicity Fiebig, Principal Leila Kasprzak, Darren Fiebig, Preston Wills and Samuel Nuske with a food hamper. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“Where we live it’s only 1.5 hours from the city, but it’s isolated in some ways … so this is about students loving and appreciating their community,” she says.

“We look after each other here and that’s what I really want to impart on the kids – to have a sense of love where they live.”

The school also offers a community pantry where families and residents can collect items, such as bread and canned goods, at no cost.

As part of The Advertiser’s drought-relief campaign, The Advertiser Foundation will also contribute $1000 to fly six students to the National Landcare Conference in X, in September.

The students, who have been working alongside the Mid Murray Landcare group, will present to the conference their leanings at Meldanda – an environmental learning site and observation point for the Dark Sky Reserve.

Originally published as Advertiser Foundation helps Cambrai Primary School hand out 20 hampers to ease drought struggle