The Campbell River Kinsmen donated $500 to Carihi Secondary School on May 12.
"After I saw the news of the fire and I realized not all the loses were covered by the government insurance, I thought maybe we should help out because that's what we try to do with our organization to raise money and we give it out to people who need it," said Kinsmen Robert Nisilla.
The donation will go to Carihi Secondary School's fire relief fund. A late-night fire destroyed the school's A-wing on Nov. 21, 2024. The fire damaged the teaching kitchen, band room, storage rooms, and other spaces. The school had the A-wing demolished during Spring Break.
The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion due to a reaction between fabrics and cooking oil, heat after laundering, and inadequate ventilation.
Nisilla said he spoke to his coworker, Lexi Human, who is a student at Carihi, about how the Kinsmen could help.
"She contacted her teacher (Christine Knight) and gave me her name," said Nisilla. "I called her and arranged everything."
The Kinsmen decided to provide $500 to the school, with Knight, Human, and two other students (Madrid Palmer and Parker Jones) to accept the cheque on May 12.
Human, Jones and Palmer are part of the school's theatre department, led by Knight.
"We're really appreciative of how the community has stepped up to support us for all of our endeavours," Knight said. "This kind of thing helps and fills the gaps we are not sure we are going to get back in the end."
