As river levels continue to rise, an army of students are shovelling, packing and stacking sandbags to help the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nation prepare for potential flooding.

Throughout the day on Thursday, more than 200 students from Langley Secondary School, Langley Fine Arts School and Langley Fundamental Middle Secondary School were bused to northwest Langley to help with the emergency preparedness efforts.

READ MORE: Katzie First Nation seeks sandbagging volunteers in Langley, Pitt Meadows and Surrey

The idea came from Langley Fundamental Vice Principal Neil Powell, who heard about the river banks being at risk, and thought the students could help.

He brought the idea up to Michael Morgan, the Langley School District principal of Aboriginal education, and together they mobilized around 100 students to help the Katzie First Nation, and another 100 students to help the Kwantlen First Nation.

“They’ve been out sandbagging this afternoon, we are really appreciative and very proud of those students that volunteered to help out,” said Ken Hoff, communications manager with the Langley School District.

If the need continues, there’s another 200 students from Walnut Grove and Langley Secondary Schools who are ready to help tomorrow as well.

“We work closely with our Aboriginal neighbours and this is just a great opportunity to mobilize some students, and they were quick to jump in,” Hoff said.

“We’re appreciative that they’re exemplifying those qualities of being a good neighbour, and pitching in for the community, and that’s really what it’s all about.”

READ MORE: Flood evacuation alert issued in Northwest Langley

Katzie First Nation requests sandbag assistance #Langley #BCFlood #2018Freshet pic.twitter.com/pykin8KfmC

— Emergency Info BC (@EmergencyInfoBC) May 17, 2018

Langley Times