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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 2, 2016 | 6 Student's speech proves a winner years later by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Spotlight "Connected to your Community" G randma Kathleen Knab recalls getting an unusual call from her grandson in Oakville nearly ve years ago, asking if he could ask her some questions. "My rst thought was, what has he done that he can't talk to his parents and he's got to talk to Nana?" said the Wasaga Beach resident, chuckling. Ty MacLellan's questions, however, were about his grandmother's volunteer work with the food bank in Wasaga Beach. The-then Grade 4 student at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Elementary School had learned of her volunteerism when they visited the food bank during one of his visits. It resonated with him so greatly, he decided to write a speech about the poor and vulnerable for a class project. Holiday visit resonated That speech became the tipping point for St. Joan of Arc's Foodbank Fridays, which happens on one Friday each month when the whole school community collects the most-needed items for Oakville's Fare Share Food Bank. Once the items are collected and sorted, families deliver the bags to the Speers Road food bank. Initiative caught on The initiative by Ty began with his Grade 4 class, taught by Kelly Daly, but quickly expanded to all three Grade 4 classes -- and then the entire school. Last Friday (May 27), Ty and Daly were honoured with awards of excellence from Oakville Fare Share Food Bank for their commitment to hosting Foodbank Fridays, year after year. Ty's peers admitted he has inspired others to follow their hearts and help those in need. It's exciting to know something I started when I was so little, that was just from a speech, could become so big for the school. Grade 8 student Ty MacLellan grandson for recognizing that sup porting the food bank isn't just a one-time deal and it needs consistent support. She said when Ty visits her in Wasaga Beach, he often goes with her to visit the food bank there, where she has been volunteering twice a week over the last 10 years. Fare Share Food Bank recognized the hard work Ty MacLellan, 14, and teacher Ms. Kelly Daly have been doing for the last ve years by hosting a monthly food drive at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Elementary School on Friday morning. Pictured, from left, are Fare Share's volunteer co-ordinator Ron Ziegel, Daly, Ty and his Nana Kay Knab, who inspired him with her work at the Wasaga Beach Ministerial Food Bank. | Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) In total, approximately 2,000 bags of food have been collected since Foodbank Fridays began, and that's equivalent to approximately $50,000 in total (each bag is estimated at $25). Oakville Fare Share Food Bank volunteer co-ordinator Ron Ziegel said the school community's dedication is truly admirable. Thanks to the support, 350 needy families in Oakville receive a week's worth of food each month, Ziegel said. He said it wouldn't have been possible without Ty and the support of his Grade 4 teacher Daly, who have been working with the food bank year after year to make sure it receives the items it most needs. With Ty heading to high school in September, Fare Share wanted to recognize him and Daly for their efforts, said Ziegel. He and Nancy Bromberg, president of Oakville Fare Share Food Bank's board of directors, presented the pair with an award of excellence each, while Ty's family -- grandma Knab, grandfather Jerry Knab, mom Cindy, father Jason, older siblings Madison and Kanen -- watched proudly. The larger copy of the award, Ziegel noted, is now hanging in the Fare Share waiting area so families can see where some of their support comes from. Ziegel told the Oakville Beaver, after the presentation that was made in a school assembly, there are many people, community groups, businesses and schools that "do a lot of great things" for the food bank. The long-time food bank volunteer admitted though in his 16 years as a volunteer, the Foodbank Fridays initiative simply stands because of its uniqueness. Older siblings Madison and Kanen said they couldn't be more proud of the youngest in their family and the legacy he is leaving at St. Joan of Arc. McLellan's father Jason said seeing his son mature and grow the way he has over the last few years has been an amazing experience. "It has also been great character building for him, the ability to make change from just a simple initiative and that one person can make a difference," he said. Ty's nana said she's proud of her Student a role model for others Daly said Ty has been a role model for the younger students. Over the past few years, he's visited classrooms to share with everyone how each student can help in the Foodbank Friday initiative. "He's incredible speaking to them, he motivates them," said Daly, noting he inspired a number of students who have created their own initiative. Daly added the students have really loved being able to give back to the community. "It's really heart-warming and it's really nice to see them want to do it," she said. Ty, who was a bit overwhelmed by the recognition because it came as a surprise, told the Beaver he was very honoured. He thanked the school community for supporting him and contributing to Foodbank Fridays to make it a success. "It's exciting to know something I started when I was so little, that was just from a speech, could become so big for the school," Ty said. 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