Students at St. Joseph Elementary School are hoping their gifts will bring some happiness and smiles to those receiving them.
The students are making hand-crafted Christmas cards which will be sent out to seniors living in long-term and continuing care homes in the community. Grade 7 Teacher Ashlee Foster says the idea came from a post on Facebook by Billi J. Miller who was looking to give seniors in the Lloydminster area Christmas cards this winter.
“I have 20 students that I could easily make Christmas cards with and spread the love even faster to more senior’s homes and put a smile on their face during this Christmas season.”
She says students were excited about the project and recognize the importance of the cards.
“It’s good to do this because we’ve been going through some hard times with the pandemic and that stuff, so it’s good to spread some joy,” says Rylan Lisch. “It’s really fun to know that there are some people that’ll be smiling out there and won’t be down.”
Foster adds the cards are to remind seniors, while they may not be able to visit them, they are in the thoughts of community members across the city. It’s also not only the Grade 7 class who’s participating. Foster says she’s messaged several other teachers in the school and many are joining in.
“We have Grades 7s and 6s, 2s and 3s. Fours are doing something different and ones are doing something for the military. Our school is really banding together on what we can do. Sometimes a little thing means a lot.”
Residents can also participate and drop off cards at Musgrave Agencies, Addilynn Apparel and the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association. Other drop off locations include the Blonde Door in Kitscoty, EH Walter School in Paradise Valley and Northern Lights Realty in Vermilion. Cards will be picked up and sent to seniors on December 1.
Foster adds the students will be spreading more kindness in the community through their advent calendar project. Students will be doing one act of kindness a day for the month of December which can be shoveling the walk or calling their grandparents.