Students from Kortright Hills Public school were out and about in Downtown Guelph Friday morning spreading some warmth in the community, one hat, scarf and pair of mittens at a time.
The students distributed roughly 1,000 hats, scarves and mittens, leaving them at various visible locations along the side of the street, including attached to trees, on benches and light poles.
They also stopped by some drop-in centres in the downtown area, handed some items out and left others for people to take if they wanted to.
The items include an attached note:
"TAKE THIS ITEM
... if you're cold
... or if you like it
Chase The Chill
A gift from Kortright HIlls Publis School"
It is the third year that Kortright Hills has run its Chasing The Chill campaign.
"We had over 1,000 items, made by students and their families and donated by the community," said Kortright Hills teacher Val Jameson, who along with fellow teacher Cathy Dykstra took the students downtown Friday.
Jameson said the program is tied in to the school's 'ME To WE' social initiative.
"It helps them to be aware of their community, be global citizens and find out ways to help out in their community and how they can contribute to the City of Guelph and make it a better place," Jameson said.
It's also an opportunity for students at the south end school to interact with different members of the community, which can be "pretty special."
"The conversations we have during it is pretty cool. One of the girls was able to talk to one of the men who happily took the hat and they had a nice conversation," Jameson said.
"It was just neat to see that and the students certainly like to see people taking the things that they've made."
The Tie One On campaign, which also started in 2015 and also distributed hand-made goods downtown, has now combined with Chase The Chill and donates its made hats, scarves and gloves through the Kortright Hills program.