Bellerose teams up with lumber yard

An Edmonton lumber-yard has teamed up with Bellerose students to help raise funds for their school.

Bellerose Composite High announced on its website this week that it had struck a deal with Nelson Lumber that will see the store donate two per cent of specified sales to the school.

Nelson Lumber is an Edmonton-based supply company located on St. Albert Trail.

Nelson Lumber spokesperson Scott Bedard said he’s had the idea for this promotion for quite a while now due to his work with other fundraising groups.

When Bellerose teacher Jason Dabbagh came to him looking for supplies for a pizza oven, Bedard suggested the promotion to him, and he forwarded the idea to principal Larry Dick.

“The rep asked us if we’d be interested in getting two per cent on sales and to advertise that to our school community,” Dick said. Since it required no cost or action on the part of the school, he agreed.

“We’re always looking for community partnerships for our kids with industry,” he said.

Dick said that while this usually means work-experience opportunities, it sometimes means fundraising through the sale of gift cards from Sobeys or Safeway, both of which he had experience with at Bellerose and Paul Kane. Nelson Lumber has also donated wood to the school for many years.

It’s getting tough for schools and other groups to raise money conventionally these days as people are tired of being asked for hand-outs, Bedard said.

“What we’re trying to do is encourage people to shop locally and choose local companies that benefit the community,” he said – if you’re going to build a deck anyway, why not support a local school in the process?

Bedard hopes the promotion encourages residents to shop at his store instead of other big-box suppliers.

Residents who buy supplies from Nelson Lumber can specify that they want to take part in the fundraiser, Bedard explained. The store will track these purchases and, twice a year, give Bellerose two per cent of the total.

The promotion doesn’t have an end date, and could be expanded to other schools if it goes well, Bedard said. He wasn’t sure how much money it would raise.

“We’re hoping we can help out.”