EDMONTON – Dozens of students from a northeast Edmonton Elementary School got into the season of giving Thursday, by making Christmas ornaments for the people of High River.
“We are making ornaments out of big cotton balls and we’re colouring them,” said Grade 2 student Jeremiah Brooks.
“They had a big flood and they lost their Christmas tree, their ornaments and their special stuff,” said fellow Grade 2 student Elyaas Ayaad. “We want to give back to them.”
Parent volunteer Rosanna Houle came up with the idea and brought it to the kids. Houle’s in-laws live in High River and were impacted by the devastating June floods.
While she was helping in the affected areas, Houle met a family who lost four generations of antiques they had stored in their basement.
“I just thought ‘why don’t we come as a community and just make ornaments for people that lost close to everything?'”
She says it’s a way for the kids to help families add “one extra touch of love to their tree.
“And just let them know that there are students and people that do care about them far and near.”
Abbott School’s principal says it’s also an opportunity to teach the students about the importance of helping others. She says she’s extremely proud of the work the kids are doing.
“They can do simple things to be everyday heroes in the lives of their families and themselves and other people around them,” said Ronda Borchert.
“Our kids are well aware that there are kids who are way less fortunate than them,” she explained, “and we help them understand that this is an opportunity for them, as well, to pay that kindness forward that we often receive.”
Ornaments of all shapes, colours and sizes were created by the students Thursday, who say it’s nice to be able to help others.
“This stuff is what they need and we’re the ones who are making them,” Brooks said.
“We’re giving by the heart,” Ayaad added.
Grade 6 students at Abbott School also made ornaments and jewellery. Those items will be sold with money going to help those impacted by Typhoon Haiyan.
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