35 students from Ecole Francophone d'Airdrie spent last night (December 6) sleeping in tents and cardboard boxes in temperatures as low as minus 18 degrees.

It wasn't some kind of cruel detention for the students as they were happy to do it.  It was all a part of the 24 Hours Against Hunger Project that the school undertook for the 8th year.

One of the student spokespersons Claire Kusler explains what the project is all about.

"It's where students from grades seven to 12 sleep and stay outside during 24 hours to raise money and awareness for those who are less fortunate and cans of food and money for the Airdrie Food Bank.  It's been going on for eight years."

Her counterpart Lydia Englo says students from the school bring in the food and they also go door to door collecting it.

Claire said the students' goal this year was to raise $2,800. At 3:00 pm yesterday they had already raised $1,630.50.  "We counted our cans and food that we've raised so far and it's over 630 cans so far."

According to Lydia, "The project started at 9:30 am (December 6) and it ran until 9:30 am this morning."

Helping others means a lot to the students.  Claire says, "December's known as the giving season so we want to give back to our community.  Some might be less fortunate, but there's always tomorrow and we want to really help them get there.  It makes us feel good because seeing people suffering is heart-wrenching."

Even though the 24 Hours Against Hunger is over, you can still call the school and make a donation to the project.  

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