An Englehart girl's gift for writing has landed her a big cash prize in a national writing contest.
The annual "Meaning of Home" contest asks Grade 4, 5, and 6 students to share what home means to them.
Grade 5 student Gloria Burey is a runner-up, earning a $10,000 grant for Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North. See her entry at the end of this story.
“Gloria’s poem not only beautifully captures the meaning of home to her, but has contributed $10,000 to build futures for two families,” said Kimberley Woodcock, CEO, Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North.
For the third year in a row, a record number of students shared what home means to them in Habitat for Humanity Canada’s Meaning of Home contest, according to a news release.
Over 13,000 students entered, beating last year’s record by more than 1,000 entries and raising over $311,000 for local Habitat for Humanity organizations across Canada.
"By sharing what home means to them, students learn about affordable housing issues in their community and raise funds to help build homes for people in need of safe and decent housing," said Emily Tingey, Digital Engagement Coordinator.
In addition to three grand prize winners who won a $30,000 grant each for a local Habitat, nine runners up have won a $10,000 grant and every student who entered the contest earned a $10 donation for their local Habitat.
“Habitat for Humanity Ontario Gateway North was excited to see students from our communities reflecting on the strength and stability that a home provides. They each contributed in their own way towards Habitat’s vision of a world where everyone has a safe and to have decent place to live,” says Woodcock.
The Meaning of Home contest would not be possible without the generous support of Founding Sponsor, SagenTM, Award Sponsors Urban Systems Foundation, Chapman’s Ice Cream, and Home Trust, and Judging Sponsors Microban 24, Face to Face Games, and Hunter Douglas.
“We could not be more proud that this contest continues to grow year over year,” said Stuart Levings, President of Sagen. “Children across Canada are provided the unique opportunity to be a part of something so important on a national scale while helping their local community at the same time, all with a short poem or essay.”
Here is Gloria's entry
My home is in a very small town so home to me is the entire community. Home is at school because my friends care about me, we play and learn together, and we love each other lots.
Home is at the curling rink because I go to many community events there and I am learning to curl there! When I am at the curling rink I feel at home and like family.
Home is not just a structure. A home is where you grow physically, mentally, socially and emotionally.
Home is where you are loved and where you learn from your mistakes.
Home is where you make memories, some good and some bad.
Home is where you can be yourself, not feel judged, and be accepted. In any home, you need to help out. This means in your community too! I enjoy helping in my community by volunteering at the community garden, helping at food drives, picking up litter, running for Terry Fox, and visiting residents at the Senior’s Residence.
I like to help others to make a difference in their lives and to make my community a better place to live. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but to me it takes a village to make a home. By entering this contest I will help others to get a house and hopefully a home like mine. One of the many reasons I love Habitat for Humanity is because they are making houses for a family to make into a home. My home is where my heart is!
