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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, March 17, 2016 | 14 Backpack drive to help Syrian refugee children integrate into school system by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Donations are pouring in to help supply Syrian refugee children with the tools for success in the Canadian school system. Launched of cially on Dec. 4, 2015, Pack My Bag For Success is an initiative started by Oakville resident Amber Wyne to prepare refugee children for a "safe, positive and bright educational future in Canada." Wyne told the Oakville Beaver she was inspired after getting involved as a volunteer in The Clothing Drive -- a Greater Toronto Area (GTA) project that's collecting donated clothes for Syrian refugees. Questioning what would happen when the refugees' children entered the school system, Wyne, a mother of two boys aged three and ve years, saw an opportunity to help make that transition go more smoothly. Her Facebook group has already garnered more than 1,000 members and numerous volunteers from across the GTA acting as drop off locations and collecting new backpacks lled with school supplies and a lunch bag for school-aged children. A typical elementary school bag is lled with a pencil case, three pencils, two erasers, a sharpener, a pair of child-safe scissors, a ruler, tape, a glue stick, packs of colouring pencils, crayons and markers, lined paper, construction paper, a spiral notebook, books and more. Monetary donations are also being collected to purchase items to ll backpacks. "Being prepared for school is so important. When you start school, having all the right tools is the rst step in actually getting a good education," said Wyne, who is a teacher by trade, but is currently running a hobby business in her home while searching for teaching work. Wyne has partnered with groups across the GTA to help distribute the backpacks as Syrian refugees arrive over the next few weeks. The groups include the Safetynet in Oakville, Halton Multicultural Council, Wesley Urban Ministries in Hamilton, Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre in Mississauga and Costi Immigrant Services in Toronto. "People are so willing to help and go the extra mile. I'm so impressed with everyone," she said. "Everyone is coming together and I love that aspect of it." Wyne said the backpack drive has been a great project for her. "Organizing the drive allowed me to teach others to remember and give to others in need, lead others and inspire others in the community and teach my own children about worldly events and how we can make a difference," she said. For more information, email Wyne at packmybagforsuccess@ gmail.com. Reduce Reuse Recycle Oakville resident Amber Wyne is the founder of Pack My Bag For Success, a backpack drive aimed at supplying Syrian refugee children with the tools for success to integrate into the Canadian school system. | submitted photo Next issue: APRIL 16/16 DIAMOND DIAMOND Voted Best Accountant by Oakville Beaver Readers for 9 Consecutive Years For advertising information email: ads@redplum.ca Valuable Savings INSIDE CPA, CA, MBA, B. Eng Ricky Wong W For more information please check our website www.rickywong.ca · Accounting · Auditing · Taxation Dentist and financial advisor recommended. Get more white for less green with the new Philips Sonicare Essence+. · · · 31,000 brush strokes per minute. Choose from Sensitive, Plaque removal, Gum health and Whitenin g. MSRP $39.99 (price may vary) REDPLUM® IS NOT DISTRIBUTED IN ALL AREAS 1200 Speers Rd., Unit 32, Oakville, Ont. L6L 2X4 (905) 845 - 1408 | Fax (905) 845 - 5931 COUPON BOOK LOOK FOR IT INSIDE Results you'll notice or your money back. Philips.ca/Sonicare EXPIRY DATE: April 30, 2016 Save $5 on any Sonicare Brush Head Refill SAVE $5 EXPIRY DATE: April 30, 2016 Save $5 on any Sonicare Rechargeable SAVE $5 Toothbrush Compression soCks... Your legs will thank You! March Special Tender pieces of marinated pork, Served over rice, with Greek salad, garlic bread And Tzatziki pork souvlaki dinner $13.99 Visit our new location today! 2420 Lakeshore rd., W., Oakville Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner Oakville Burlington 380 Dundas St. E. 3350 Fairview St. T: 905.257.4335 T: 905.637.4335 Great Family DininG For over 40 years! 905-827-4851 Mon. - Sat. 8am - 9pm Sun. 8am - 3pm