The Mission Community Archives allowed access to years of Mission Newspapers, as well as, Mission Central High School ‘News Views‘ Newsletters. Fundraising was shown throughout the years of 1939-1945, how they were able to raise money through war savings bonds, stamps, a penny line, and more.
Corridor of Pennies:
The penny line was named the ‘corridor of pennies’ in 1941, it was a war-saving campaign started by the students of the high school. The goal was to create a line of pennies that was 100 feet long. Each grade was responsible for a certain amount of feet they had to line with pennies, the staff was allotted an amount as well. 1
War Savings Stamps:
Mission Central High School took fundraising very seriously, it was a way for the staff and students to give back to those who are fighting for them. It made them feel like they could help even while being at home. The war savings stamps were a big fundraiser
- 1940 Mission juniors and senior high school had a war savings stamp drive where they fundraised $530, the aim was $1000 which they continued to fundraise for.
- 1941 Mission Schools led the province in war stamp sales, they had bought $529.50 of war stamps.
- From September 1941- June 1942 students had contributed $215,000 this was added to Summer savings in 1942 and equaled $250,000. With this money, the Canadian Army was able to buy two PBY Patrol Bombers, which was the largest fighting aircraft built in Canada.
- In 1944 the Mission High School students had “invested $537 in War Savings Stamps.” Following this, the student council “added two more fifty dollar bonds to the two bought last year.3
- $65.50 went to War Savings Stamps in the short time the fundraising had been open this school year. The school had a competition to see which grade could raise the most money, “Grade 12, so far, is the leader with $13.25 worth of Stamps. Grade 8A comes second with $11.00 and grade 9A tied.”
Hitler’s Valentine:
A News Views article wrote a section called Hitler’s Valentine. This article showed that the students of Mission High School had a record high for a single purchase in fundraising sales for War Savings Stamps. With the urge to send more supplies to their troops, the students purchased $189.75 of War Savings Stamps in one day. This was their way of sending Hilter a valentine.
This stamp drive was held from February 14th to February 18th, 1944, which is where the title came from. The fundraiser was deemed a “heartbreaking success.” A few students had made large purchases in the fundraiser that were named in the article, “special mention goes to Grade 10 who alone bought $50.25 worth of stamps and Grade 8A who turned in $40.75.”4 In today’s time $50.25 would be around $887, while $40 would be around $709.
In an article in New Views, there is a section that speaks on how supporting the troops from home is highly important. It continues with how important fundraising money for the troops is and how vital it is in their fighting, “every war savings certificate and victory bond supplies some of the necessary tools of war.” 5