Students at a north Nanaimo school are hoping that coins can change the lives of the less fortunate this holiday season.
Pleasant Valley Elementary School students recently passed along the money they were able to collect this fall for the News Bulletin’s Coins for Kids fundraiser.
Julia MacGregor and Jaxyn Stewart, Grade 6 students at Pleasant Valley Elementary, said Coins for Kids was one of their school’s numerous charitable efforts at Christmas time.
The year-round fundraiser, which collects nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, toonies and other dollar amounts for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island and Great Nanaimo Toy Drive, ramps up during the festive season.
“We think that it would be really, really nice to help everybody because I feel like some people don’t have as much as us,” said Stewart. “When I look at my cupboards and see how much stuff I have, I would like to donate to them and share with them.”
“Some people don’t get presents for Christmas and some people get some really big things,” said MacGregor.
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For Diane McGonigle, Pleasant Valley principal, it is nice to see students stepping up at this time of year.
“We try to get our students to know that every little bit counts and everybody can make a difference,” she said. “We’ve done some volunteering, where we’ve given our time and then we’re trying to give students different opportunities of different ways to support people in our community by donating just a few coins or some food or whatever works for their family.”
In addition to Coins for Kids, MacGregor and Stewart said students also participated in Salvation Army Christmas kettles and the Everybody Deserves a Smile Project, collecting items for care packages for those experiencing homelessness.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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