Students from the Be The Change Club at Dr. Hamilton School met very early Sunday morning at Toys R Us, before doors opened to the public, to purchase gifts for children at Ronald McDonald House.
Toys R Us kindly opened their doors so that these students, along with teacher leaders Mrs. Slater, Ms. Ducharme, Ms. Coppen and principal Mrs. Ziprick, could purchase approximately $800 worth of gifts to help children at the hospital during the holiday season.
These donations were collected from Dr. Hamilton School's parent community, as students participated in a long-standing parent council tradition called "Presents for Parents". Students at Dr. Hamilton School have a chance to "shop" for their moms and dads at Presents for Parents. Families donate gifts for shopping as well as money to cover costs of wrapping. With extra funds collected, a donation is made to a children's charity in Winnipeg.
This is the second year that PAC and the teaching team at the school have gone one step further - students and staff actually shop for the gifts on their own time (early Sunday morning) and then have a chance to deliver the gifts.
This joint initiative from PAC and the school team helps to reinforce the importance to looking outward during the holiday season as a way to make a difference in the world around us.