A group of New Westminster parents is working hard to make sure local grads still get a chance to celebrate.
The 2020 Dry Grad Committee has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of an alternative celebration this year – since the typical large-scale celebration that’s open to all graduating students can’t be held because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, the committee has regrouped and is working to arrange an alternate plan that will follow the necessary public health restrictions and still give students a party.
Dry grad is an annual drug- and alcohol-free celebration organized by parent volunteers.
“It’s a rough year to be graduating. Grade 12 students have lost the end of their school year and all of the normal festivities that mark such an important milestone,” said Chloe Good, chair of the 2020 Dry Grad Committee, in a press release.
The committee sent out a survey to see if there was interest in an alternative celebration, and more than 80% of respondents said they wanted to see something go ahead.
“I know high school grads not getting a party isn’t the most serious issue facing us right now, but we want to do something special for these kids who have worked really hard to get to this point,” Good said. “Many are heading off to other cities for post-secondary, so they want the chance to get together and say congratulations and goodbye.”
In order to abide by current restrictions, committee members are organizing small-scale dry grad dinners that will take place over multiple nights this July. Venue capacity will be managed in compliance with public health and WorkSafeBC restaurant guidelines.
The plan is to host multiple sit-down dinners with entertainment, photo opportunities and prize giveaways - all things that can be done while maintaining physical distance.
“We know that this won’t be the large-scale celebration that grads have been looking forward to,” Good said. “But we are committed to finding a creative way to meaningfully celebrate our Grade 12 students. It’s very exciting that local venues are willing to work with us to make it happen.”
The event is volunteer-driven and not sponsored by the school, so it is all paid for through the fundraising efforts of the committee. The group has raised a significant amount but is still a bit short of the goal with extra expenses for multi-night dinner events.
“New West is such a great community; we’ve already had businesses and individuals step up to help, and we’re hopeful we’ll raise enough to make this happen for the Class of 2020,” Good said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to make up the shortfall. Anyone who wants to help can make a donation through https://tinyurl.com/NWSS-2020Gofundme
