‘Tis the season of giving, and many Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows students put their generosity on full display this holiday season, managing to raise thousands of dollars and goods for those in need.
Both private and SD42 schools hosted large fundraisers throughout December, benefiting a range of local organizations.
At Environmental School, students worked together to run five Christmas hampers, with three of them for Katzie families and the other two for Maple Ridge seniors.
Principal Nicole McKenzie said she was amazed to see how many items were collected by her students at these Christmas hampers.
“We are so grateful to our community for allowing us to play and learn in the many parks and forests,” said McKenzie. “We love giving back to the community that we live in.”
Several other schools also hosted Christmas hampers, including Highland Park Elementary, Westview Secondary, and the Grade 7 class from Laity View Elementary.
The Highland Park students were able to support seven families in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society program, explained principal Jennifer Walker.
“We were able to fulfill all the children’s wishes on their lists,” said Walker.
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Other local schools targeted their fundraising efforts toward supporting the Friends in Need Food Bank.
At Maple Ridge Secondary, the annual drive-thru food drive raised nearly 800 non-perishable food items and more than $2,100.
READ MORE: Maple Ridge students raise thousands of dollars for food bank
Yennadon Elementary students were able to collect more than $1,200 for the food bank as well, in addition to the nearly $1,100 that they also raised for the B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Other food drive events for the Friends in Need Food Bank took place at Pitt Meadows Elementary, Albion Elementary, and Eric Langton Elementary.
Maple Ridge Christian School (MRCS) sent their food drive collection to The Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries’ emergency hamper program.
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More than 2,000 food/money donations were collected, explained MRCS director of community engagement Alyson Westra.
“To celebrate, everyone was very excited to watch our principal team, as well as Dave MacPherson, the executive director of Ridge Meadows Ministries, receive pies to the face,” said Westra. “The students enthusiastically counted down and then screamed with delight as blueberries and whipped cream went flying.”
The students at Davie Jones Elementary took a more diverse approach to their fundraising, hosting a Five Days of Holiday Giving event.
Through a variety of events, the school was able to send much-needed supplies to the Food for the Soul Project Society, Friends in Need Food Bank, and Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Christmas Hamper Society.
A couple of schools even took it upon themselves to have their students make some items to help people this holiday season.
The Grade 6 and 7 classes at Laity View Elementary knitted a total of 85 hats that were then donated to the Beyond Hello project, which helps individuals in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
READ MORE: Toques destined for DTES, a gift of warmth made by Maple Ridge students
Meanwhile, Yennadon Elementary students created some handmade holiday cards, which were distributed to the Maple Ridge Seniors Village, Greystone Manor, and the Maple Ridge branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
Other local seniors centres and the Friends in Need Food Bank also received some handmade holiday treat bags thanks to the hard work of Kanaka Creek Elementary students.