Kids & Families

Online votes may net national award for young volunteer

Sarah Jordan
A GIVING SPIRIT: Sarah Jordan organizes a yearly food drive in Leaside.

One of Leaside’s youngest volunteers has been nominated for a national award in recognition of her charity work.

Six years after starting Sarah’s Food Drive, 11-year-old Sarah Jordan is one of three finalists in the “Youth in Action, 12 and Under” category of the Canadian Living Me to We Awards, which is dedicated to honouring Canadians who make a difference in their communities.

“I am very excited about the nomination and feel honoured to have been chosen,” Sarah says.

“In our mind Sarah’s already won,” said her mother, Lynda Debono. “The fact that she’s one of three finalists is awesome.”

The six winners will be determined by online voting.

They will receive a $3,000 donation to the charity of their choice.

In Sarah’s case that would be the Daily Bread Food Bank, which received 60,995 pounds of food from her drive last year.

“It would be great to win, as the $3,000 would be really helping the Daily Bread Food Bank and the people that need their services,” Sarah said.

The Town Crier carried the story of her effort on the front page of the October issue of our Leaside-Rosedale edition.

Sarah’s sister Claire, 8, who helped run the drive, said she is “very happy” and is preparing to join the online voting.