Local groups and organizations pitched in to help others over the holidays
By Anneleen Naudts and Bill Rea

This big pile of clothing and toys was accumulated by the folks at the Montessori Country School in Nobleton, to be distributed to needy families through York Region Children's Aid Society. School Director Joanne Hastie and Administrative Assistant Nina Schembre are seen here with students Mason Dalakis, Caileigh Maskery, Antonio Di Giovanni, Alessandria Vescio and Maya Tesone.

The holidays are a time for giving, and thinking about those less fortunate, and there were many efforts throughout King over the last couple of weeks to do just that.

King churches engaged in charitable giving in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

King City United Church called upon its congregation to help fulfill the specific needs of underprivileged families through its Christmas Angel Program. Throughout December, the church also held a food drive for the King Township Food Bank, reported Church Administrator Nancy Stenson.

Members of York Pines United Church in Kettleby supported a family through York Support Services, and collected food contributions for King's food bank.

Members of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Nobleton contributed food items to the year-round food drive for King's food bank, reported Jocelyn Donaldson, communications officer.

By also collecting items, Nobleton United Church also did its part for the food bank this season, stated Church Secretary Sharon Birks.

Church administrator Bill Duern reported Schomberg United Church further added to the King Township Food Bank by collecting food items through December.

Aside from contributing to the food bank, the parish of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Schomberg pulled resources together to help out a family in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The local schools stepped up to do their bit too.

The students at Holy Name Catholic School in King City raised money through the Pennies for Heaven drive. Principal Beverly Coles said the kids brought in enough coins to fill two water cooler bottles, and they will be distributed to ShareLife through the archdiocese.

People at Kettleby Public School were bringing in contributions for the York Region Food Bank, with a focus on King Township, Principal Kathleen Mantle-Barkel reported.

As well, the school ran a couple of lucky draws. The Grade 7 and 8 students raised more than $240 in draws for gingerbread houses, and ski tickets and lessons were awarded in a draw held at the school concert Dec. 19.

Students at St. Patrick Catholic School in Schomberg were supporting Yellow Brick house, the women's shelter in Aurora, with clothing and donations. School Secretary Jennifer McIntosh said these efforts generally result in a good response, and that was the case this year, with roughly $2,500 being raised.

Schomberg Public School conducted a food and toy drive, and Secretary Fern Fraser said the proceeds were distributed to needy families in the area through the local fire department.

The students at St. Mary Catholic School in Nobleton were working with the local Catholic Women's League on their legacy of Love program, according to Principal Janet Ferlisi. They have been collecting infant and baby clothing to be sent to children in Malawi who have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS.

As well, she said four Grade 8 students, Maggie Faggiani, Sara Jones, Agelina Saraceni, and Ariana Mussato will be running a coat, mitten, scarf and boot drive in January, with the collected goods being sent to the Salvation Army.

Nobleton Public School has been running a Christmas Drive for about 11 years, according to Secretary Peggy Weir, and they've been doing it again this year, working with the local Lions, Rotary club and

Women's Institute, as well as families both in and out of the school community. The aim was to fill wish lists of various needy families in the area clothes, toys and other gift items.

Weir added about 17 youngsters benefitted this year from the program. They usually start with families in the school, expanding that as word of other families needing support is received.

"Year to year, it varies," she observed. "It just depends on who's in the need and who presents it to us."

She added they benefitted from "tons of involvement in the community."

The people at The Country Day School have been busy in terms of holiday giving too.

Communications Director Brenda Castle reported all students have been involved with the Giving Tree, and the proceeds have been going to three different organizations; Leeder Place, an emergency family shelter in Newmarket; Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers; and York House, a drop-in centre for struggling families.

Students in the junior school were busy with a couple of fund-raising events to buy toys for needy youngsters. They included "Pay a Twonie Day," which bought them the right of wearing wild hair styles or their pyjamas to school. Castle said they raised about $5,000.

Meanwhile, kids in the middle and senior schools were requested by their student leaders to donate gifts and new toys to the cause, and the result was a couple of carloads.

"It's really hands-on, and it's really a fantastic initiative," Castle said. "We do it every year."

A couple of organizations benefitted from the charitable activities at King City Public School. Secretary Barb Sutton said student collected gifts for local needy families, and they were distributed through the Children's Aid Society. As well, they auctioned off some gingerbread houses, and the proceeds from that went to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

At St. Thomas of Villanova College near King City, students put together Christmas kits for needy families, both in York Region and Toronto, according to Linda McGowan-Parsons, codirector of guidance.

The Montessori Country School in Nobleton collected piles of clothing and toys, already to go to the York Region Children's Aid Society.

Students at Holland Marsh District Christian School were busy gathering non-perishable food items for the Filling the Pantry of the Mercy House fundraiser.

Principal Rod Berg said Mercy House is a centre for abused women and children that will be opening in the spring just outside Bradford.

"A lot of churches in Bradford have been sponsoring and supporting them," he remarked, adding grade 8 students at the school helped out with landscaping work there last year.

He added the student council present more than $400 worth of groceries to the Mercy House at their last assembly Dec. 21.

York Region paramedics also did their bit, distributing teddy bears Christmas Eve to children who required their assistance en route to, or in, York Region hospital emergency rooms and children's wards.

Ganz: The Teddy Bear Company generously donated 350 teddy bears to York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for distribution. This is the third consecutive year for the Christmas Eve teddy bear giveaway.

More than 45 blankets were also be distributed to elderly patients in York Region hospital palliative care units. These blankets were hand-knit and donated by the Nanny Blanket Drive, a team of York Region EMS paramedics, family and friends.