There's something special being taught at Burnaby North Secondary School: lessons in giving, kindness and generosity.
Student Nicole Shum, who heads up the school's Christmas Cheer Committee tells the NOW they're hoping to raise $10,000 this year in their annual fundraising efforts in support of the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.
The bureau provides toys and food for low-income families in the city of Burnaby.
"Every year, we strive to raise $10,000 for the (bureau)," she says. "To date (since the club's inception in 1989), we have raised $200,000."
With the current job action limiting how much teachers can get involved in extracurricular activities, the group is facing an extra challenge in reaching their goal successfully. They've already organized donut sales and a unique test-drive program with a local car dealership in which donations were made for every person who came out for a free test drive, but they're hoping to continue with fundraising in a number of different ways.
Shum notes they've got a few upcoming events in their efforts to reach this year's goal:
- On Nov. 25 and 26, the Brentwood Town Centre McDonald's and the Capitol Hill McDonald's will donate $1 for every purchase of a McCafe beverage. (The McCafe beverages include hot and iced mochas, hot and iced lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolates and Americanos.
- On Dec. 9, from 4:30 to 8 p.m., the group will be hosting its annual Christmas Carnival for children from kindergartent to Grade 3. The event will be held in Burnaby North's south gym (the school is located at 751 Hammarskjold Dr. and the gym is facing Kensington Ave., near Curtis Street.) The event will feature games, activities, food, drinks and more - including a visit from Santa, with whom children can get a photo. Entrance is by donation, with all proceeds going to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau.
Other ways to help
If you can't get out to one of the fundraisers being organized by the Burnaby North Christmas Cheer Committee,
- Financial donations: donate online at the bureau's website at http://burnabycommunityconnections.com; send a cheque to 204-2101 Holdom Ave., Burnaby, B.C., V5B 0A4; donate by credit card by phone at 604-299-5778; drop off a cash or cheque donation at the bureau's new temporary location at Metropolis at Metrotown, on the upper level near Winners, in Unit E8.
- Participate in the Angel Wall program: this program is a toy drive program held by schools, community groups or local businesses. The bureau provides decorative angel themed cards with the gender and age of a child written on each one, as well as posters that can be used to encourage participation. Individual participants then choose an angel, purchase a toy for the appropriate age and gender and bring the gift back to the organization for drop-off at the bureau's toy room.
- Sponsor a family: the Burnaby Christmas Bureau matches families with a group that provide them with a food hamper and gifts. These groups can include companies, religious groups, school groups, families, or individuals. The sponsor has direct contact with the family.
For more information about the bureau, including information about registration (running now until Dec. 1) see http://burnabycommunityconnections.com.
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