Emma Thompson is a 'Mum on a Mission.'Her mission: Help the Brooklyn Elementary School Parent Advisory Council raise money for more activities and equipment at the school.Her method: Hire herself out to local businesses and give all of her earnings towards the PAC's projects.Her first 'job' was at Roots the Salon where she worked for half a day on Friday. Dressed up as a construction worker, complete with a plastic hammer, Thompson was busy washing hair, sweeping, stocking shelves, making tea and coffee and doing whatever else needed to be done — although she said she left the haircutting to the professionals.When the Record caught up with her during her work she said everything was going great."It's such a friendly place to be; it's great," said an enthusiastic Thompson. "I mean, the accent is obviously getting a lot of attention and obviously people aren't used to seeing someone dressed up as a workman coming to work in a salon, but it's been great."Thompson moved to the Comox Valley from Worcester, England, and brought this idea over with her. She said it worked well in the United Kingdom and decided to try it out here after she became a member of Brooklyn PAC's Fundraising at Brooklyn (FAB) committee.According to Thompson, the school's PAC wanted to help students integrate after Brooklyn school closed and students merged into Cape Lazo School — which was renamed Brooklyn Elementary School.The PAC will use the money for improvements at the newly merged school. Thompson mentioned ideas like a running track around the playground, a water tank for the school's earthquake kit and the possibility of a mini-bus in the future.Thompson said raising money for the extra things kids need at school is important to their growth."The more opportunities we can offer our children — more choices, more activities, more equipment, just more choices for them — then it enables them to be a little more rounded individually," she explained.Thompson plans to continue working for free until the school-year ends in June. Since she stopped working as a psychologist when she moved here with her husband, and two children who are enrolled at Brooklyn school, she said she has plenty of time to commit to this initiative.Roots the Salon co-owner Migal Huska said he would recommend Thompson to other local businesses, and noted this idea for fundraising is interesting."I thought it was a great idea; you know, something different instead of just always giving a gift bag or something like that," explained Huska. "That was an innovative suggestion and it's great."Anyone interested in hiring Thompson can contact her at emmat333@shaw.ca.• • •A garage sale at Brooklyn Elementary School is just one way some parents are working to fundraise for supplies and equipment at the school.The Parent Advisory Council's (PAC) Fundraising at Brooklyn (FAB) committee is trying to raise some extra money to help with the integration of the new Brooklyn Elementary School. The old school closed and students merged into Cape Lazo School — which was renamed Brooklyn Elementary School — earlier in the year.Parent Emma Thompson is organizing a garage sale in the school gym on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.One table costs $12 to rent or two tables costs $20. Although these proceeds will go to the fundraising initiative and donations will be accepted, sellers are not required to donate their profits.For more information or to book a table, contact Thompson at emmat333@shaw.ca.According to Thompson, another parent hosted an evening of photography earlier this year and raised about $600, the PAC FAB hosted a family movie night and raised over $600, and many other fundraising activities are in the works.Anyone interested in coming fundraisers can visit the school's website at www.brooklynelementary.ca, or e-mail fundraising committee chair Brad Holub at Bjholub@gmail.com.
