Gill's questions about the Silent 1000 program are answered.

Some of the directors of the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Schools Foundation are shown in the picture (complete list below). 

I had a long chat with Erin Van Steen about this program as I had some serious reservations about only 1% being allocated for expenses, plus I found it hard to believe that there is as much poverty in Nanaimo as was indicated. 

 The Foundation has "in kind" donations from the School District that allows it free office space and salaries for staff who work with the Foundation.  They also have a couple of other programs which charge about 5% which goes towards administration.  The 1% is really only for having checks printed up from what I can tell. 

 Each school has an amount of money that they can administer to help students in need.  The staff will buy sneakers, clothing or whatever and be reimbursed - the kids are NEVER given cash.  The teacher submits the receipt.  Meryl Chahley of Meyers Norris Penney is the accountant and she also works with the Dragon Boat Festival.

 Erin explained to me that BC has the highest child poverty as families in need can live here in unheated apartments or trailers or even on the streets which they couldn't do in most of Canada in the winter.  Nanaimo/Ladysmith has even more than the provincial average as there are still good programs for the working poor here and housing is more affordable than elsewhere in BC with a good climate. 

 Erin indicated that $200 per person for the Silent 1000 is an affordable amount and that $200,000 seed money means that they can operate.

 I have decided that both Chris and I will support this program and I am asking others to come in too.

 Gill