A 12-year-old girl from Hampton, N.B., is travelling across Canada while also lending a hand to those in need.
Ariela White and her parents will be raising money for Food Banks Canada during their coast-to-coast journey.
“Before COVID-19, I volunteered at the food bank and then I realized that there was a big need,” said White.
“A lot of seniors need the food bank and I don’t want to see my grandpa go hungry, or anyone for that matter.”
White and her family usually stay in Florida for the winter and were planning to visit Asia this year, but that was before COVID-19.
Instead, they have decided to visit some of Canada’s most famous landmarks in a trip dubbed Coast to Coast Canada Adventure.
“I’m excited to go to the West Edmonton Mall because it was so fun last time. I’m also excited to go see the polar bears and the Northern Lights,” said White.
Part of the family’s cross-country journey will take them to Churchill, Man., which is part of the polar bear migration route in October and November.
This is not the family’s first trip during the pandemic. In March, they travelled from Orlando, Florida, back to New Brunswick as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians around the world to return home.
White said it will take her family about a month to complete the 20,000-kilometre journey to British Columbia, where they plan to stay for around five months.
The family hopes to raise $10,000 for food banks across the country along the way. The family began their adventure with a $500 donation to the Hampton Food Basket.
You can learn more about the journey or make a donation through White’s blog called Ariela On The Go.
