Students helping students at Cathedral High School’s Annex

Cathedral high school in central Hamilton has seen a big shift in its demographics in the past couple of years, to include many more newcomers to the city. The change has meant more demand for the school’s Annex, a storehouse of food, clothing, school supplies and housewares available for anyone who needs something.

17-year-old Mambo Byamungo is a recent immigrant from Kenya who is living on his own in Hamilton, with social assistance. When he started, he learned that his high school was not just a place for learning, he could also get the food, clothing, and housewares he needed. “It makes my life easier. I don’t have to think about a lot, I can focus on my studies.”

Cathedral’s donation centre is called the Annex, a whole separate building organized like a department store. Educational assistants and their students volunteer to staff the centre, organize donations and find other ways to help.

Contact Cathedral high school if you’d like to help.