This year’s Lamplighter Award recipients are Emily, left, and Jessie Miller. (photo by Josh Bowie Photography)
The Centre for Judaism of the Lower Fraser Valley has selected Emily and Jessie Miller, Grade 10 twin sisters at Prince of Wales Secondary School, as the recipients of this year’s Lamplighter Award, which honours youth who have performed outstanding acts of community service.
In 2016, Emily and Jessie initiated a social action program called Live2Give in conjunction with Vancouver NCSY. Their goal was to do more volunteer work and good deeds in the community, and they organized events that included feeding the homeless in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and baking challah for the residents of Louis Brier Home and Hospital. Among their fundraising activities to support their work was a successful paper clip exchange at Richmond Centre.
“These events prompted many other Jewish teens to become involved with NCSY and the community as a whole, spreading goodness and kindness,” said Simie Schtroks, co-director of the Centre for Judaism. “It also helped many people work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award by fulfilling the 13-hour community service requirement.”
Emily and Jessie are planning Live2Give events for 2018 and intend on making contributions to the food bank and donating toys to sick children. They feel honoured to be considered for this award and hope to continue to get more people involved in helping the community.
“Chanukah celebrates the victory of light over darkness and goodness over evil,” Schtroks said. “This is a most appropriate opportunity to motivate and inspire young people to make this world a brighter and better place, by filling the world with goodness and kindness – that light can dispel all sorts of darkness.”
Emily and Jessie will receive their awards on Sunday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m., at the Centre for Judaism’s annual public menorah lighting at Semiahmoo Shopping Centre’s food court, 1701-152 St. in South Surrey. Dignitaries, including the mayors and some councilors of White Rock and Surrey, as well as representatives from Langley and Delta, will be in attendance, as will members of the Legislative Assembly. For more information or to help sponsor this project, please email [email protected].