Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows students got into the spirit of giving this holiday season by collecting toys and money for donation, writing cards to raise spirits, and knitting warm toques for those in need.
Eleven schools across the district participated in Coins for Kids, including Albion Elementary, Alexander Robinson Elementary, Davie Jones Elementary, Golden Ears Elementary, Hammond Elementary, Laity View Elementary, Pitt Meadows Elementary, Whonnock Elementary, Yennadon Elementary, Samuel Robertson Technical, and Thomas Haney Secondary.
The fundraiser was run by leadership students at each school and together, they raised $6,222 for the Christmas Hamper Society.
Leadership students at Yennadon Elementary, with support from teacher-librarian Candace White, put on a photo fundraiser for the BC SPCA with a jolly old twist.
Decked out in Santa suits, the Grade 7 group posed for photos with other students for $1 each.
“It was the best moment of my elementary school career,” said Alexa, one of the student Santas. “I’ve been waiting to do this for eight years!”
Student Ayla also donned the classic red suit and fluffy white beard, and while it may not have been the highlight of her time in school, it was still a lot of fun.
“It was awesome! I felt the Santa energy,” Ayla said.
For Grade 7 student Olivia, however, there was one downside.
“I had so much fun but the wig was itchy,” she explained.
But the students persevered and they were able to raise $388 to donate to the BC SPCA.
“It’s important we give to the SPCA because animals deserve to have a warm, safe place to be and someone to take care of them,” said leadership student Lily.
The Yennadon student leadership team also collected food donations for the Friends in Need Food Bank and raised more than $1,900 for the Coins for Kids campaign that supports the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society.
The Whonnock leadership club held a lemonade sale to raise money for Coins for Kids, while the school’s parent advisory council (PAC) and child and youth care worker raised more than $400 through a giving tree fundraiser to support families in need.
Meanwhile, Davie Jones Elementary put on their annual school-wide fundraiser called the “Five Days of Holiday Giving.”
On the first day of holiday giving, the school collected new or gently used gloves, toques and scarves for the Food for the Soul Project Society. For days two and three, students and staff brought in non-perishable food for the Friends in Need Food Bank. The fourth day was all about donating new toys, and day five saw collection of new or gently used socks.
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- Whonnock Elementary students put on a lemonade sale to raise money for Coins for Kids.
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- Crates full of gently used toques, gloves and scarves for donation at Davie Jones Elementary.
Kanaka Creek Elementary held its annual candy drive at the beginning of the month, where staff, students, and the school community donate their leftover Halloween candy to make the holidays a little sweeter for seniors and those in need.
Through the month of November, they collect donations while students in various classes decorate small paper bags with holiday drawings and messages.
Then, during the last week of classes, teachers Debby and Paul Moran transform their classrooms into a scene that resembles Santa’s workshop, as students get to work stuffing the Christmas bags full of candy, ready for delivery.
This year, they put together 795 bags of candy to deliver to eight senior care homes, the Friends in Need Food Bank, and a local alcohol and drug treatment facility.
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- Kanaka Creek Elementary students put together holiday treat bags.
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- Kanaka Creek students in Santa’s workshop.
Students at Yennadon Elementary made holiday cards for seniors in the community. They sent 200 cards to a seniors community centre, 75 cards to Greystone Manor, and more than 100 cards to Maple Ridge Seniors Village.
Grade 6/7 teacher Megan Kossaber-Graham organized the school-wide project and says making the cards helps build a sense of community and connection.
“Students gain a sense of pride that they are doing something kind for someone else and helping to spread holiday joy,” she said, adding that the process of making cards in class also leads to some “powerful conversations about giving back and the meaning of the holidays.”
Kirsten Bailey’s grade 6/7 class at Laity View Elementary also made gifts by hand this holiday season. For nearly a decade, Bailey’s classes have been loom knitting toques that they donate to people in need on the Downtown Eastside.
“This project blends curriculum from Socials and ADST (Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies) with social emotional learning and opportunities to help others, not just themselves,” Bailey explained.
This year, the students knit 122 toques over a two-week period, smashing the previous record of 88. Several students even knit multiple hats a day, with the top knitter making 42 in total.
“The students were very motivated and each year the hats get better and better,” Bailey said. “We are so thankful to all the parents and school community who donated yarn to keep us knitting.”
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- Laity View leadership students put on a toy mountain drive.
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- Toques made by Laity View Elementary students.
Meanwhile, Laity View leadership students put on a toy mountain drive. They collected new, unwrapped toys to support families in need through the Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society.
“Together, we hope to make this holiday season unforgettable for each and every child,” said Grade 6/7 leadership teacher Noelle Perrett.
Garibaldi Secondary students raised $1,729 for the Christmas Hamper Society and collected 738 non-perishable food items for the Friends in Need Food Bank. The school also raised $121 in their Winter-Friendship Candy Grams campaign that will be donated to Alisa’s Wish Child & Youth Advocacy Centre.
Finally, the school district’s Continuing Education department received a $3,000 donation from the Maple Ridge Lions Club that will be used for Christmas hampers for families in need.