In a time of giving, over $5,000 was raised for vulnerable mothers and their children during Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School's annual Hope for the Holidays Drive.
From Nov. 29 to Dec. 8, students decorated the school and visited classrooms to support women and children at Michael’s House. Throughout Hope for the Holidays, students raised around $5,000, all of which will go to the organization.
The student lead for the 2021 initiative was Brianna Pham. In the release, Pham said her goal for Hope for the Holiday this year was to encourage the school to continue to raise money, even after reaching $5,000.
“My main goal is to support Michael House's family as much as possible through this holiday season as it has been a hard year for everyone so we all deserve a happy and worry-free Christmas.”
A release from the Wellington Catholic District School Board said all participating classrooms were assigned a mother and child, and given a list of their favourite stores where students can purchase gift cards for them to use.
The idea to collect gift cards for the families happened during the pandemic. By giving gift cards, it allowed the mothers to purchase gifts for their children for Christmas. Following last year’s success in handing out gift cards, the school decided to do it again this year.
Penny Lerit, mathematics teacher at Bishop Macdonell, said Hope for the Holidays Christmas Drive started four years ago as a way to help a local organization within the community.
“We believe it is important for students to provide charitable acts in the community so that they will discover the special gifts/talents that they can contribute to Guelph,” said Lerit in the release.
“Whether that is designing a bulletin board to advertise or counting and collecting gift cards, we hope that our students will be encouraged to continue to help others in their community throughout their lives. We want them to see that if you work together, it is amazing the difference that you can make in the community.”
